The European Union’s first ambassador to the UK has warned that “the first weeks and maybe the first years” of the post-Brexit relationship between the two regions “will be particularly difficult”.

João Vale de Almeida, was appointed to his ambassadorial role in February, told UK reporters on 11 March that UK policymakers needed to accept that their decision to leave the European trading bloc and its economic structures, the customs union and single market “have consequences... on your side”.