Britain won’t pay £39billion ‘divorce’ bill in no-deal Brexit, EU warned
Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab will hold talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Friday
THE UK will not pay its £39 billion "divorce bill" to Brussels if it is refused a Brexit deal, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab has said.
It came after Prime Minister Theresa May made it clear Britain would rethink its agreement on the exit settlement if an arrangement on future trading relations was not reached.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Raab said "the Government would not pay the terms of the financial settlement" if there was no deal, adding: "There's no deal without the whole deal."
His remarks came as the Government was releasing a new raft of technical papers on Thursday expected to focus on how a no deal Brexit would impact on things like mobile phone roaming charges.
Mr Raab said the Government wanted a good agreement, but added: "It will require our EU friends to match the ambition and pragmatism we have demonstrated.
"If that doesn't happen, the UK will manage the challenges of no-deal, so we make a success of Brexit."
The Brexit Secretary also accused people who warned about shortages of food and medicines after a no-deal withdrawal of "scaremongering".
Mr Raab, who will hold talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels on Friday, said: "With six months to go until the UK leaves the European Union, we are stepping up our 'no deal' preparations so that Britain can continue to flourish, regardless of the outcome of negotiations.
"These technical notices are part and parcel of our sensible, pragmatic approach to preparing for all outcomes."
"Getting a deal with the European Union is still by far and away the most likely outcome, and I will continue to champion our Chequers proposals with Michel Barnier as the best way of securing the deep and special partnership we want with the EU."
The stronger Government stance followed a meeting of Tory backbenchers in the hardline Brexit European Research Group (ERG).
They threatened to launch a bid to topple Mrs May unless she abandoned the Chequers strategy on EU withdrawal.
ERG chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg told Channel 4 News: "Chequers is a dying duck in a thunder storm, if it is not quite a dead duck."
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The move to release a fresh raft of technical Brexit papers comes amid speculation that leaving the EU without a solid agreement could see the return of levies for using mobile devices on the continent.
The pro-Europe Best for Britain campaign said the re-imposition of roaming charges could cost business people visiting the EU up to £778 a month.
Other areas covered by the documents will include the impact of a no deal scenario on standards relating to the environment and vehicles.
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