Britain told to sort out its EU past before making future trade plans

Britain must agree to honour its outstanding financial commitments to the European Union before talks about trade can begin, the president of the European Council has said.

Leaders of the other 27 nations will meet today to agree their negotiating strategy for Brexit.

Donald Tusk said talks about future relations can only start once “we have achieved sufficient progress” on key exit issues.

He said: “In other words, before discussing our future, we must first sort out our past.”

As well as outstanding financial obligations, a deal on the rights of EU citizens living in the UK and Britons living in the rest of the bloc must be reached.