Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte is to represent Britain at Thursday night’s meeting of the European Council to discuss the migration crisis, the Telegraph newspaper says.

The paper says a ‘diary clash’ means David Cameron will not be able to join the meeting, which is the first such gathering of his counterparts since the British prime minister submitted his renegotiation demands.

It also points out that earlier this week, Rutte warned that Britain leaving the EU would be a ‘killer’ for its financial industry and turn the UK into ‘a mid-sized economy in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean’.

The paper said Cameron has chosen Rutte to ‘represent as necessary’ Britain during the Malta talks. In the past, the British PM has described the Netherlands as ‘an old friend and like-minded ally’.

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