BRITAIN could still have to fork out £38billion to the EU despite Boris Johnson warning Brussels we won’t pay a divorce bill if there is a No Deal Brexit.
While Boris talks tough to Donald Tusk in Biarritz, the government’s lawyers have been working on what would happen if Britain are forced to cough up the mammoth sum.
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The Brexit legal team have been studying a “range of scenarios” – as No10 prepares for No Deal, the Times reports.
Boris held fresh talks with European Commission boss Tusk on Saturday morning and warned the chances of No Deal were now “touch and go”.
TOUCH AND GO
Boris said in a clip to Sky News this lunchtime: “I think what the entire European Union understands if we come out without a deal, the £39bn is not pledged.
“They understand that if there isn’t a deal, then the £39bn is no longer legally pledged.”
And he told the BBC: “I think it’s going to be touch and go but the important thing is to get ready to come out without a deal.”
But he did admit that the chances of getting a deal are “improving” and said he’s had “some success” in European talks this week.
Just a few weeks ago Boris said the chances of a No Deal were “a million to one”.
NO DEAL FEARS
Over the weekend, the PM promised that if there was a No-Deal Brexit people would still be able to get their medicine – playing down scare stories that Brits could be in danger due to customs problems at ports.
He said: “That is certainly a guarantee that we can make.”
And on reports of food shortages he insisted: “I think it’s highly unlikely that there will be food shortages of any kind.”
Yesterday, Johnson and Mr Tusk clashed over who would be to blame if the UK were to leave the European Union without a deal in October 31.
On the way to Biarritz, Mr Johnson had told reporters: “I have made it absolutely clear I don’t want a no-deal Brexit.
“But I say to our friends in the EU if they don’t want a no-deal Brexit then we have got to get rid of the backstop from the treaty.
“If Donald Tusk doesn’t want to go down as ‘Mr no-deal Brexit’ then I hope that point will be borne in mind by him too.”
He said he had discussed the problems with Mr Trump in an eve-of-summit phone call, and highlighted barriers to the sale of British goods including shower trays, cauliflowers and Melton Mowbray pork pies.
“It goes without saying that there are sectors of the UK economy, not least the NHS, which remain completely off limits as far as any trade deal with America goes.
“We will not allow the NHS to be on the table at all,” he added.
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