Brussels demands UK pays an extra £1bn towards EU budget!

The European Commission caused fury today after demanding that Britain pays an extra £1 billion towards the EU budget, due to the UK’s strong economic growth over the past 12 months.

The European Commission said Britain “must stick to the rules” despite having left the bloc last Friday at 11pm.

On Brexit day, the EU executive sent the Government cash demands for an extra £1.09 billion towards its 2019-2020 budget.

It means Britain could end up handing over £10 billion to the bloc this year while the country remains in the transition period.

A Commission spokesman insisted the demands are non-negotiable while the UK remains locked to EU rules.

They said: “The UK has been informed of what needs to be done and we would like to stick with the rules.

“Member states have the obligation to pay their contribution to the budget and there are procedures to make sure they do and these apply as all rights and obligations do to the UK as long as it’s a member of the EU.

Each year the Commission recalculates the contributions EU capitals make to the bloc’s budget.

Because of Britain’s flourishing economy, the country has been asked to send more cash to Brussels – in 2017 and 2018 the UK was handed backs funds after the maths was done.

It is calculated based on changes to Gross National Income and VAT contributions, according to EU officials.

Senior Conservative backbencher Andrew Bridgen urged Boris Johnson to only pay the bill if Brussels offers the UK a good trade deal.

The MP for North West Leicestershire said: “How typical the EU’s parting shot is to slip us a bill punishing for us for our economic growth.