Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs last month that “very many brilliant UK officials” are “trapped in meeting after meeting in Brussels and Luxembourg”.

He said their “talents could be better deployed in preparing to pioneer new free trade deals or promoting a truly global Britain”, and he wanted to “start unshackling our officials to undertake this new mission right away”.

As of 1 September, UK officials and ministers will only attend EU meetings where the UK has “a significant national interest in the outcome of discussions, such as on security”.

In a statement, the UK government added: “This decision is not intended in any way to frustrate the functioning of the EU. The UK’s vote will be delegated in a way that does not obstruct the ongoing business of the remaining 27 EU members.”