Reports Britain could double settlement payment

Tusk has set a deadline of the start of next month for Britain to make further movement on the divorce bill and the Irish border issue in order for the EU heads of government summit on December 14-15 to allow talks on a future trade relationship to begin.

Number 10 has dismissed as “speculation” reports claiming Mrs May could be prepared to offer a further £20bn in payments, which would bring the total sum Britain is prepared to pay to settle its liabilities to around £38bn - well short of the €60bn (£53bn) sought by Brussels.

Ahead of the Downing Street gathering, Mrs May insisted the UK “will honour” its commitments with the EU.

The PM said the Government position had been made “very clear” in her speech in Florence in September, adding no other member of the European Union would have to pick up the UK’s tab for the current budget cycle.

Mrs May said: “I set out in my Florence speech that we will honour our commitments.

“I was very clear about that, as I said - for the current budget plan - no other European Union country needs fear that they will have to receive less or pay in more.

“We’ve been very clear that we will honour our commitments.”