Ever since the EU and Brexit referendum took place in June 2016, there has been a sense of anxiety whether the outcome will be fruitful. With the deadline penned as March 2019 for the official Brexit to happen, the future of trade relationship with the EU, and the status of European citizens living in the UK, as well as British citizens in the EU have still not been given any light.
What is now being suggested is that the government have apparently agreed to pay more to the European Union, an amount estimated to be up to £40 billion, which is twice the amount previously offered. The United Kingdom and the European Union are yet to decide on a “divorce bill'. The EU states that the UK has made financial commitments which needs to be settled prior to their exit from the European Union as part of an overall withdrawal agreement.
However, some Conservative MPs are angered at the prospect of the UK paying more to the European Union. On the other hand, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove are in support of Theresa May paying a “much larger sum”, provided that the EU agrees to commence trade talks with the UK, which it yet hasn't agreed to do thus far. A source from Theresa May's office said, “It remains our position that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed in negotiations with the EU. As the Prime Minister said... the UK and the EU should step forward together.”
At a summit on 14th and 15th December, EU leaders are expected to decide whether they will allow talks on a future trade relationship to start.
