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| Brexit 'divorce bill' will rise by up to £5bn if Theresa May seeks longer transition period, MPs told | Brexit 'divorce bill' will rise by up to £5bn if Theresa May seeks longer transition period, MPs told |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Britain’s so-called Brexit “divorce bill” will rise by £4-5bn if Theresa May seeks a longer transition period than Brussels wants, a Commons inquiry has been told. | Britain’s so-called Brexit “divorce bill” will rise by £4-5bn if Theresa May seeks a longer transition period than Brussels wants, a Commons inquiry has been told. |
| A Government minister did not dispute the figure, which was put to him by the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee. “This is something which, like the Roald Dahl Tales of The Unexpected, has suddenly appeared,” said Bill Cash, the committee’s Conservative chairman. | A Government minister did not dispute the figure, which was put to him by the chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee. “This is something which, like the Roald Dahl Tales of The Unexpected, has suddenly appeared,” said Bill Cash, the committee’s Conservative chairman. |
| The transition period was beginning to look “as long as a piece of string”, Mr Cash told Robin Walker, the Brexit minister, and Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s ambassador to the EU. | The transition period was beginning to look “as long as a piece of string”, Mr Cash told Robin Walker, the Brexit minister, and Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s ambassador to the EU. |
| In reply, Sir Tim acknowledged that the Government’s estimate of the financial settlement – between £35bn and £39bn – was based on the transition concluding at the end of 2020. | In reply, Sir Tim acknowledged that the Government’s estimate of the financial settlement – between £35bn and £39bn – was based on the transition concluding at the end of 2020. |
| Guidelines issued by No 10 yesterday hinted that the transition could be longer, while repeating the aim for it to be “around two years” from Brexit Day, in March 2019 - therefore, extending into at least 2021. | Guidelines issued by No 10 yesterday hinted that the transition could be longer, while repeating the aim for it to be “around two years” from Brexit Day, in March 2019 - therefore, extending into at least 2021. |
| However, Sir Tim insisted there was no question of a transition of “unlimited duration” – pointing to the EU’s directives seeking a conclusion at the close of 2020. | |
| “That is basis on which we are currently talking to the Commission,” he told the committee. | |
| Nevertheless, the latest UK document states – to the fury of many pro-Brexit Tory MPs - that Britain would only stop following all EU rules when both sides are ready to “implement the future partnership”. | |
| On Wednesday, an EU source exclusively told The Independent: “Britain will have to pay for any transition beyond 2020, probably annually and with no rebate.” | |
| Mr Walker also confirmed that transition would require a “complete acceptance of EU law” – with no voting rights in the council of ministers, or European Parliament. | |
| “That is the approach that we have consistently taken to this, but recognising it will be for a time-limited period,” he said. | |
| Britain is arguing for a “mechanism for raising concerns” before new regulations are introduced, but the EU seems certain to reject the request. | |
| More follows… | More follows… |