Boris Johnson dismisses Brexit divorce fears after figures suggest leaving the EU will cost Britain £18billion
Foreign Secretary says getting out of the European Union will enable us to develop a new European partnership
BORIS Johnson has dismissed fears that Britain is heading for a bitter divorce with the EU as reports suggest it could cost £18billion.
The Foreign Secretary said it will not be an “acrimonious divorce” and instead will be the opportunity for a new relationship.
Speaking to a parliamentary committee this morning he said: “I think it is so important to recast this whole conversation and ... to stop thinking of it as this acrimonious divorce.
“It's not going to be like that, it's going to be the development of a new European partnership between Britain and the EU."
And he said the Government will be able to get Britain out of the EU within the two year time frame.
He added: “I think there will be a deal ... If it can't be done in two years then there are mechanisms for extending the period of discussion.
“I don't think that will be necessary, I think we can do it."
His comments came after the calculated leaving the EU could cost us £18billion (20 billion euros).
The FT said its analysis represented the first attempt to calculate the UK's liabilities on leaving the EU.
The Government has not commented on the FT report.
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A spokesman said: "As the Prime Minister has said, we will invoke Article 50 no later than the end of March next year.
“We are not going to provide a running commentary on leaving the EU."
Theresa May is continuing her mini-tour of European capitals ahead of the EU summit later this month with talks in Madrid with Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy.
And at the High Court today she has been accused of attempting to start the Brexit process by unlawfully using ancient executive powers under the Royal prerogative.
In one of the most important constitutional cases in generations, a QC at the High Court argued the Prime Minister had no legal power to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty to leave the European Union without the prior authorisation of Parliament.
Mrs May announced at the Conservative Party conference that she intends doing so by the end of March 2017.
Lord Pannick QC attacked her decision on behalf of Gina Miller, an investment fund manager and philanthropist living in London who voted Remain in the EU referendum on June 23.
Ms Miller is the lead claimant in a historic legal action with several other applicants, including the so-called “People’s Challenge”.