David Cameron’s hopes for a far-reaching overhaul of Britain’s relationship with the EU were dealt an early setback on Wednesday when Germany said the UK’s partners would not be rushed into changing the bloc’s treaties to meet its reform demands.

In a sign of a broader distrust of London’s motives, Wolfgang Sch?uble, Germany’s finance minister, also lashed out at George Osborne’s “silly” and “unnecessary” record of intervening over the eurozone crisis. Many in Brussels believe London intentionally sought to undermine monetary union, Mr Sch?uble noted.

The chancellor of the exchequer was given this sharp reminder of the uphill task facing the newly elected Conservative government on the same morning Mr Cameron was telling his cabinet he needed treaty change to sell a new deal on Europe to the British public.