Sky News said Quinn and bosses from Tesco and Amazon voiced their concerns to a trio of ministers including Chancellor Philip Hammond.

Quin is reported to have asked: “I would like to know when we might get back to a normal functioning government.

“Decisions are being delayed on HS2, new nuclear, Heathrow expansion.

“The enemy of business is delay and procrastination, and the construction industry will face large-scale restructuring where it cannot carry the resources it will need over the next 25 years, and capability will have to be let go.

“Once resources are lost to industry it is very difficult to get them to come back; the next six months are critical.”