Empire strikes back! Britain will get NO special favours from Commonwealth post Brexit

The warning has come after Mr Fox outlined his vision for a “Global Britain” in a high profile speech at the London offices of media giant Bloomberg last week.

But in advance of the summit, which will be held in London and Windsor between April 16 and 18, and which will be attended by representatives of a total of 53 countries, a senior adviser told the Politico website there was no plan to put trade with Britain on any special footing – and that all partners would be seen as equal trading nations.

The Commonwealth consists of nations which were previously part of the British Empire. While some of them retain the Queen as their head of state, all are now self-governing and the organisation’s imperial roots remain a sensitive subject. 

Mr Fox raised eyebrows last year with attempts to boost trade with African Commonwealth nations, which was reportedly described by Whitehall officials as “Empire 2-0”.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Forum last week the concept was an “insult to Commonwealth countries”.

Teddy Soobramanien, the Commonwealth’s adviser on international trade, said: “The agenda won’t formally focus on any post-Brexit trade deals. 

“Those are trade issues that the UK and interested Commonwealth members can take up bilaterally. 

“The secretariat stands ready to assist members, should they need support on those issues.”

Mr Soobramanien added that the summit was likely to back a strong rules-based multilateral trading system, enhance support for smaller countries to build their trading capacity and “strengthen dialogue and cooperation.”

There will also be a Commonwealth trade review looking at new technologies such as digital trade and fintech.

However there will be no specific focus on the UK, with organisers apparently keen to avoid colonial connotations.

Nevertheless, a Cabinet Office spokesperson said boosting intra-Commonwealth trade would be a priority, with the UK keen to demonstrate its commitment to global free trade and explore ways the Commonwealth can help champion this.

A spokesman said: “By using the combined strength of the Commonwealth we have an opportunity to build a global economy that works for everyone.”

Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations Tariq Ahmad told the foreign affairs select committee last week the summit provided a “huge opportunity”.

He explained: “We are hoping that through the bilateral discussion that will take place there will be huge opportunities to, if not sign trade deals, certainly start those trade discussions as well where they have not begun … we are not setting any particular target but there are huge opportunities for us.”