Brexit Secretary David Davis dismissed reports that Prime Minister Theresa May is set to approve paying as much as 50 billion pounds ($64.8 billion) to leave the European Union.
“There are all sorts of stories flying around,” Davis said. “It’s nonsense. The story is completely wrong.”
How much the U.K. owes the EU in leaving the bloc is among the most difficult issues concerning Brexit, with analysts estimating that the EU will put forward a gross bill of as much as 100 billion euros ($119 billion). Britain’s government acknowledged in July that it will have to pay, but said it wants to “determine a fair settlement of the U.K.’s rights and obligations.”
The EU is trying to “play time against money,” Davis said on the BBC, after the bloc’s negotiator, Michel Barnier, last week said the talks still had done nowhere near enough for there to be a prospect of moving on to trade discussions after October. “He wants to put pressure on us which is why the stance this week,” he said. “Bluntly, I think it looked a bit silly.”
In a separate report, it is said that May has been advised that Britain may have to pay up to 46 billion pounds to break the deadlock in Brexit talks.
“We want to leave in an orderly and smooth manner,” Davis said. “There are issues if you just walk away. We’re aiming for a smooth, sensible, amicable exit, which leaves us and the European Union in a good position.”
The government is also facing challenges to the EU divorce plans at home, with the opposition Labor Party’s Brexit spokesman lobbying for changes in the legislation repealing laws that took Britain into the EU. Keir Starmer warned Davis in a letter that unless changes are made to safeguard “crucial rights and protections,” Labor will oppose the so-called Great Repeal Bill when it is considered in Parliament this week. Labor also said last month that it wants Britain to remain in the single market and customs union for as many as four years after exiting the EU.
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