Britons now enjoy a cap on mobile phone roaming charges while travelling in Europe

Shoppers face higher mobile phone bills and credit card charges as well as weaker protection when buying online because of government complacency before Brexit negotiations, consumer groups have warned.

The chief executives of Citizens Advice, Which? and Moneysaving expert have accused Theresa May of overlooking the benefits and protections consumers enjoy under EU law.

These include compensation for airline delays, a cap on mobile phone roaming charges and a ban on credit card fees, which is due to take effect next year. The EU also sets quality standards for food and electrical goods.

In a letter to the prime minister, the group states: “An economy is nothing without consumers. Despite this, the UK government is still to make a substantive statement about the role consumers