Mediaboss Marketing

Michel Barniersaid yesterday programmes and schemes could have to be scrapped

THE EU is set for an explosive political crisis if Britain holds firm and refuses to pay a divorce bill, the blocs chief Brexit negotiator said yesterday.

Michel Barnier also has repeated claims that our exit from the bloc will not be quick or painless in a sign thatBrussels are DETERMINED to make us suffer.

And hewarned that there would be political and legal implications if Britain refuses to cough up the cash and that it was incontestable that we would have to pay.

Sky News

EPA

At a press conference in Brussels yesterday he told an audience that it was an illusion to think that things could be wrapped up quickly and that there would be explosive consequences if we didnt pay up.

The news came before Theresa May delivered a damning speech on the steps of Downing Street accusing Brussels chief of meddling in our election.

Mr Barnier was speaking as the EU Commission set out its detailed negotiating guidelines for the upcoming Brexit talks.

He described the bill as incontestable.

Imagine what would happen if this were not to take place, he said.

We have to be rigorous in our approach to clearing these accounts. Otherwise the situation might be explosive if we have to stop programmes. Can you imagine the political problems which might arise?

Brussels are seriously concerned about the cash they will lose when Britain leaves the bloc and there are rumours they will ask us to pay up to 100 billion euros to settle our bills.

But The Sun can reveal Mrs May is drawing up a nuclear option of immediately ending Britains 18bn annual Budget payments if Brexit talks breakdown.

AP:Associated Press

EPA

Mr Barnieralso fired a warning shot at MrsMay: Some have created the illusion that Brexit will have no material impact on our lives or that negotiations can be completed quickly and painlessly. This is not the case.

He said that EU leaders should remain cool-headed in the process, but accused the UK of causing months of uncertainty that needed to be eradicated.

And he stated that there WOULD be consequences for us as a result of leaving and that there was a legal process that had to be agreed to cover all the technical points of our exit.

David Davis yesterdayREFUSED to pay up to100 BILLION for a Brexit divorce bill.

The Brexit Secretary said this morning that the UK did not recognise the figure which is claims is just to settle the UKs part in promised money.

Mr Barnier insisted yesterdaythat the UK had material commitments and future projects it had agreed to fund already. Those commitments will have to be honoured, he said.

And after an audience with the Queen yesterday afternoon, Mrs May launched a scathing attack on EU chiefs.

In a moment of high drama, she slammed the former Luxembourg premier and other euro elite for deliberately timed threats and smears on her Tory government to try to influence the elections outcome.

AP:Associated Press

EPA

Getty Images

Yesterday's comments were the latest in an escalating tensions between Britain and the EU.

Last week Mrs May hit back at Angela Merkel's description of our Brexit plans as an "illuion" as tensions continued to escalate.

The Prime Minister said the 27 nations were "lining up to oppose us" which would bring instability to the country.

Over the weekend EU sources leaked details of a dinner between EU chief Jean Claude Juncker and Mrs May in Downing Street where he said that Brexit "cannot be a success".

Mrs May insisted the UK does not owe the EU any money because there is nothing to that effect in the treaties - but Mr Juncker said she was "in another galaxy".

EPA

Mr Juncker said the UK would not get a trade deal then but Mrs May has repeatedly insisted leaving the EU with no deal would be better than taking a bad deal anyway.

The President of the European Commission reportedly then told Mrs May as he exited: "I leave Downing Street ten times as sceptical as I was before."

EPA

The rest is here:
European Union set for 'explosive' political crisis if Britain doesn't cough up billions for a divorce bill, chief ... - The Sun