Fury as EU demands cash until 2020

THE UK will be expected to prop up the EU’s depleted finances for at least a year after Brexit to secure a divorce deal, a senior Brussels official has warned.

Brussels said it expects billions of pounds until 2020 and even beyond to fill the budget ‘black hole’ left by Britain’s departure.

But there is a growing revolt from hardline Brexiteers over claims the UK could pay a £3 billion divorce bill.

EU budget commissioner Gunther Oettinger said the UK had no choice but to ‘honour its obligations’, adding: ‘London will have to transfer funds to Brussels at least until 2020.’ The demand comes despite repeated assurances from the Prime Minister and Brexit Secretary David Davis that the UK will not send ‘large sums’ to Brussels beyond 2019.

The aggressive EU position also reflects growing concern among member states about how to replace the huge annual payments made by the UK – one of the biggest net contributors to its budget – after Brexit.

In a bid to prevent a bitter internal fight, Brussels officials believe Britain should be forced to plug the gaps. The UK would be asked to keep paying until the end of the bloc’s current long-term budget in 2020.