£50BN BILL TO LEAVE THE EU
Shocker for May at snub summit
BRITAIN will be hit by a £50billion fee for leaving the EU, Brussels negotiators have confirmed.
The huge sum includes the UK’s final two years of EU budget payments plus pensions liabilities and other commitments we have previously agreed to.
PM Theresa May was presented with the bill during a summit at which she was largely snubbed by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and other leaders.
Czech Europe minister Tomas Prouza said Britain would definitely face a demand for tens of billions of pounds. He added: “Eurosceptics call it an exit fee but this is what the UK has already committed to pay.” No10 did not confirm or deny the £50billion figure. Earlier Downing Street tried to play down a warning from EU ambassador Sir Ivan Rogers that a Brexit trade deal could take 10 years. His comments were in stark contrast claims from Brexit Secretary David Davis that a deal can be struck in two.
Officials at No10 insisted Sir Ivan was merely relaying back the views of other EU countries rather than giving the Government’s own position.
But Brexiteers called for him to be sacked. Ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage tweeted: “Further evidence of why we need a clear-out at the Foreign Office.”
Meanwhile, outgoing head of the EU Parliament Martin Schulz threatened to veto any Brexit deal if his members are not given a voice in the talks.
And in the Lords, Baroness Prashar warned that we will be less safe after we leave unless EU institutions such as the European Arrest Warrant and Europol are retained.