£50 BILLION DIVORCE BILL: You must pay- UK told

With the look of things emerging lately, it appears Brexit negotiation may not start in a friendly manner due to the controversial bill the EU

is asking the UK to pay, which the EU is not agreeing to.

The EU is now being accused of trying to strong-arm Britain to make payment of the enormous £50bn to Brussels before any negotiation starts with the UK.

The said amount was calculated and presented by the remaining 27 member states of the EU, as fee Britain would have to pay as part of its obligation as a member of the EU .

Recall that members of the House of Lords brought up a report which says no laws that oblige a country to continue funding the EU after it leaves, something that has been met with outrage.

In response, leader of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, Gianni Pittella, accused Prime Minister Theresa May of “bullying” tactics. Warning that the PM’s plans would soon get a reality check.

According to him: “Theresa May is a bull in a china shop. She likes playing the role of the hardliner, but she’s just coming across as fully inadequate to live up to this incredibly delicate historical phase.

“Against this background, it is extremely important that the UK is called upon to honour all financial obligations falling due, up to and including the date of its withdrawal.”

But the PM got more confidence when the Lords report came out, as it falls in line with most of her arguments.

On the other hand the European Commission’s chief Brexit negotiator is expecting the UK to pay into the EU budget in 2019 and 2020, with possibilities the UK could be forking out until 2023.

This they said is partly due to payments for EU-funded infrastructure not being settled for two or three years after being agreed.

Mr Pittella insisted that until the UK pays its ‘bill’, there can be no progress on negotiations, in particular securing a free trade deal.

He said: “Without an agreement on this and other crucial issues, talks on future relationships between the EU and UK cannot start.

“Madam May is fully aware of this, but she’s still fooling herself that the EU can be impressed by her bullying attitude.

“The reality will soon wake her up.

“Negotiations between the European Union and UK should be concluded in good faith and a spirit of mutual respect to ensure the orderly exit of the UK from the EU.”

Despite some viewing the hefty bill as punishment for the UK leaving, a high-ranking EU diplomat dismissed the claims.

They said: “This is not the price of leaving, and it shouldn’t be represented as that.

“This is simply what the UK owes. If you buy a pint in a bar, you have to pay for it even if you don’t drink it.”