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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/aug/25/boris-johnson-concedes-uk-will-have-to-pay-for-brexit
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| Boris Johnson concedes UK will have to pay for Brexit | Boris Johnson concedes UK will have to pay for Brexit |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK will pay money to the EU as part of the Brexit process, Boris Johnson has conceded, having previously said the EU could “go whistle” over a reported bill of between €60bn and €100bn. | The UK will pay money to the EU as part of the Brexit process, Boris Johnson has conceded, having previously said the EU could “go whistle” over a reported bill of between €60bn and €100bn. |
| The issue of the “divorce bill” has split the pro-Brexit camp, with some leave supporters demanding that the UK decline to pay a penny, and Johnson told the Commons last month that a demand for €100bn (£92bn) would be extortionate. | |
| On Friday, the foreign secretary said he did not “recognise” that figure, but added: “We will certainly have to meet our obligations”. | On Friday, the foreign secretary said he did not “recognise” that figure, but added: “We will certainly have to meet our obligations”. |
| “Some of the sums that I’ve seen seemed to be very high and, of course, we will meet our obligations,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “We are law-abiding, bill-paying people. The UK has contributed hundreds of billions over the years. | “Some of the sums that I’ve seen seemed to be very high and, of course, we will meet our obligations,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. “We are law-abiding, bill-paying people. The UK has contributed hundreds of billions over the years. |
| “I’m not saying that I accept [EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel] Barnier’s interpretation of what our obligations are. But I’m certainly saying that we have to meet our legal obligations as we understand them and that’s what you’d expect the British government to do.” | “I’m not saying that I accept [EU chief Brexit negotiator, Michel] Barnier’s interpretation of what our obligations are. But I’m certainly saying that we have to meet our legal obligations as we understand them and that’s what you’d expect the British government to do.” |
| Questioned about his comments last month, Johnson said: “I think I was being asked then about some very large sums of money, I think 100bn euros or pounds, that the EU commission suggested we were on the hook for. That’s not a figure I recognise.” | Questioned about his comments last month, Johnson said: “I think I was being asked then about some very large sums of money, I think 100bn euros or pounds, that the EU commission suggested we were on the hook for. That’s not a figure I recognise.” |
| He declined to say what figure would be considered fair. | He declined to say what figure would be considered fair. |
| The EU is asking for money to cover spending commitments the UK has already made, as well as Brexit-related costs, including the pensions of staff dealing with the UK’s departure. | The EU is asking for money to cover spending commitments the UK has already made, as well as Brexit-related costs, including the pensions of staff dealing with the UK’s departure. |
| Addressing Johnson in the Commons, the Eurosceptic Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: “Since we joined the common market on 1 January 1973 until the day we leave, we will have given the EU and its predecessors, in today’s money, in real terms, a total of £209bn. Will you make it clear to the EU that if they want a penny piece more then they can go whistle?” | Addressing Johnson in the Commons, the Eurosceptic Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: “Since we joined the common market on 1 January 1973 until the day we leave, we will have given the EU and its predecessors, in today’s money, in real terms, a total of £209bn. Will you make it clear to the EU that if they want a penny piece more then they can go whistle?” |
| Johnson replied: “I’m sure that your words will have broken like a thunderclap over Brussels and they will pay attention to what you have said. | Johnson replied: “I’m sure that your words will have broken like a thunderclap over Brussels and they will pay attention to what you have said. |
| “He makes a very valid point and I think that the sums that I have seen that they propose to demand from this country seem to me to be extortionate and I think ‘to go whistle’ is an entirely appropriate expression.” | “He makes a very valid point and I think that the sums that I have seen that they propose to demand from this country seem to me to be extortionate and I think ‘to go whistle’ is an entirely appropriate expression.” |