PAY UP! Remainer MPs tell Theresa May to COUGH UP £50bn Brexit divorce bill
TORY rebels have urged Theresa May to settle Britain’s multi-billion pound Brexit bill quickly to boost the chances of securing a free trade deal with the embattled European Union(EU).
Theresa May is facing pressure to pay the Brexit bill
Europhile Conservative politicians have ramped up pressure on the prime minister to pay up Britain’s supposed debts to Brussels so a close relationship between the pair can be maintained after Article 50 is triggered tomorrow.
It comes after the EU’s Brexit negotiator demanded Britain pay £50billion or face the consequences.
Michel Barnier said the eye-watering fee must be paid before the UK even begins other talks regarding the country’s European Union exit.
Britain voted to leave the EU on June 23
If we’re going to row about money all the time, then we’re not going to find ourselves in the right kind of relationship
And now Tory politicians, who are desperate to remain close to the EU, have demanded Theresa May toe the line.
Remainer Neil Carmichael, who is MP for Stroud, said: “If we’re going to row about money all the time, then we’re not going to find ourselves in the right kind of relationship.
“Some of this money is about the support that we have been giving to eastern European and that’s been good for them and good for all of us. We don’t want to sour the relationship.”
Conservative backbencher, Ben Howlett, the MP for Bath, told The Guardian: “We need to prioritise a free trade deal over absolutely everything else and we will be saying that to the Prime Minister.” The monster bill is thought to be many times higher than Mrs May is happy to pay.
Theresa May will trigger Article 50 on Wednesday
Her Brexit department is believed to be content to pay any genuine outstanding debt - but this is thought to be only £3billion or so.
However Mr Barnier said it was a “distinct possibility” Britain would get no deal with the EU if they refused to pay up.
Michel Barnier is playing hard ball
He said on Monday: “It goes without saying that a no-deal scenario, while a distinct possibility, would have severe consequences for our people and our economies. It would undoubtedly leave the UK worse off.”