Theresa May's cabinet agree to increase Brexit divorce payout but remain quiet on amount
KEY POINTS
- Cabinet ministers want to make sure that trade talks can begin.
- Backbenchers are concerned about the final figure.
Theresa May's cabinet have reportedly agreed that more should be paid to the EU as part of the divorce bill in order to make progress on post-Brexit trade talks.
The Prime Minister met with her cabinet ministers on Monday (20 November) to discuss the settlement which has caused a logjam in negotiations with the EU.
No specific numbers have emerged, but the BBC reports that cabinet ministers agreed to increase their offer in order to get trade talks underway.
Downing Street has sought to assuage concerns from backbenchers amid reports that the UK could double its current £20bn offer by dismissing the £40bn figure.
The 'divorce bill' is what the EU claims the UK should pay as a share of money that's already been committed to various projects. There is no official bill yet decided and any amount will be a matter for negotiations.
Numerous figures have been speculated on in recent months, ranging from as little as €1bn to €100bn.
EU officials including the chief negotiator Michel Barnier and the European Council President Donald Tusk, have warned that if Britain cannot agree on a suitable settlement by the end of November, then trade talks would not be possible.
The settlement has to be agreed on before 14 December, ahead of the EU leaders' summit.
The ongoing political crisis in Germany, a push for major reforms from France, as well as Brexit, means the summit will be a busy affair with little or no time for an ongoing dialogue with Britain.
On top of the divorce bill, the EU wants a decision made by the UK on how it will deal with the Irish border.
