We’re leaving the EU, but will our paintings?

As The Government edges closer to agreeing a £50 billion divorce from the eU, the Northern Ireland border issue may yet prove even more troublesome.

But I’ve discovered another potential source of conflict. What

is going to happen to the Government art collection which is on show in the european Parliament buildings?

Baroness rawlings, when she was a Tory meP between 1989 and 1994, chaired a committee which spent £80,000 on 12 paintings to exhibit in Brussels. By even the most conservative estimate, the collection is now worth at least £15 million — and probably far more.

Given that an obscure work by Leonardo da Vinci recently sold for £340million, the sky’s the limit!

The pictures include works by the scottish artist Peter Doig, whose magical landscape paintings have earned millions. In 2015, Doig’s swamped, a painting of a moonlit white canoe, sold at auction for nearly £20m.

There are also works by sir michael Craig-martin, who was knighted last year for services to art. he has exhibited all over the world and among his former students is the British artist Damien hirst.

Lady rawlings has tabled a question in the Lords saying: ‘Will the British art collection in the european Parliament be repatriated when the UK leaves the eU?’

Lord Ashton of hyde, a Tory culture minister, replied: ‘The Government has not yet made a decision. however, it will consider these matters carefully in the context of preparations and negotiations for the UK’s exit from the eU.’

What a typically woolly reply from the Government. Get those paintings back!