Who are the key players in the Brexit negotiations?

These are some of the key players in negotiations over Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union:

UK

The Prime Minister’s legacy will be defined by whether she makes good on her promise to make a success of Brexit. But the disastrous outcome of the June 8 snap election, which left her without a majority in the House of Commons, has raised doubts over whether she will even be able to see the two-year process through.

Critics argue she is in a weak position to fight Britain’s corner against EU counterparts who question whether her writ still runs in Westminster. She will not take part in day-to-day negotiations but is expected to set Britain’s approach and have the final say on any compromises or concessions.

His initial bullish stance has been tempered with experience in Government and he has already acknowledged it could take ”years and years” to bring immigration down, and suggested the UK may have to pay for access to the single market.

Britain’s ambassador to the EU will be expected to gather information on the 27’s thinking and feed it back to Mrs May, including on where there could be chinks in the armour for the UK to exploit. He will be under pressure as the replacement of the highly-experienced Sir Ivan Rogers, who announced his shock resignation with accusations the Government was suffering from “muddled thinking” over Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary may need to watch his mouth and avoid a repeat of his “insulting” claims that Italy should back a generous deal for the UK to avoid losing sales of its prosecco sparkling wine.

EU:

The “hardball” European Commission chief negotiator will be across the table from Mr Davis and has already been established as a something of a villain for Brexiteers.

The Frenchman has been given a mandate by the leaders of the remaining EU27 states to focus initially on the key elements of the withdrawal package – a multi-billion euro “divorce bill”, rights for EU citizens and the status of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. A second phase of talks on future trade relations will follow only after they are satisfied that sufficient progress has been made on these issues.

Mr Barnier has said he wants “to conclude a deal with the UK, not against the UK” and insists any exit bill will not represent a punishment, but a “calm” assessment of financial commitments the UK has undertaken.

The European Council president will be a key mediator between the other 27 EU leaders for the duration of the negotiations. Well-liked and respected by both sides, the Pole will attempt to keep the EU27 united in the face of British attempts to curry favour among individual allies.

So far, he has been successful in that job, making clear the European single market’s “four freedoms”, including free movement, are indivisible and forcing Mrs May to confirm her intention to pull the UK out to get control of immigration.

Another scoundrel in the eyes of Eurosceptics, the European Parliament Brexit co-ordinator’s role will grow as the talks near their end because MEPs will have a veto over any final deal.

The arch-federalist former Belgian PM, who this year published a book calling on EU states to forge “a more perfect Union”, warned last week Britain could lose its rebate and opt-outs if it changes its mind and decides to stay.

The new French President is a fervent European who has made clear that he sees Brexit as an opportunity for the remaining 27 states to relaunch a reformed and improved EU – and for France to poach bankers, academics and other talented people from the UK. He told Theresa May last week that “the door remains open” for the UK to reverse its Brexit decision, but said backtracking would become more difficult the longer talks go on.