The European Commission wants Britain to be paying into EU projects for four years after it has signed a Brexit deal, with final payments continuing up until the end of 2023, The Daily Telegraph has reported. The plan is part of a EU demand that Britain settle a €60 billion 'Brexit Bill' before being granted a deal that will govern future trade relationships. According to a news report by The Times, Germany is backing Britain to stop the European Commission presenting the €60bn 'divorce' bill immediately after PM May starts the Brexit process.
This demand emerged as Theresa May took the highly unusual step of sitting in the House of Lords to hear peers being told by the UK Government not to “frustrate” Brexit.
The Prime Minister sat on the steps in front of the Royal Throne as Lords leader Baroness Evans of Bowes Park told peers to respect the decision of the British people in last year’s referendum and the “primacy” of the elected House of Commons.
The legislation, which will pave the way for the PM to trigger Article 50 of the EU treaties to formally begin Brexit, was passed unamended and by large majority of 372 MPs.
Her presence in the Lords chamber ahead of two days of debate during the Bill’s first stage in the upper chamber was interpreted as a visual warning to peers seeking to amend the legislation.
Around 190 peers are expected to speak during the two days set aside for the Bill’s second reading debate, the first time the upper chamber will debate the legislation.
Peers are not expected to vote on the Bill this week, as we go to print, but the Government, which does not have a majority in the Lords, is braced for a battle over EU citizens’ rights and a meaningful parliamentary say on the final Brexit deal when the Bill returns for its committee stage next week.
Tony Blair urges people to rise against Brexit
Tony Blair speaking in the City of London, on 16 February claimed that people voted in the referendum "without knowledge of the true terms of Brexit", the BBC reported. He urged "a way out from the present rush over the cliff's edge".
Mr Blair, who campaigned to remain in the EU, said that while he accepted that people voted to leave by 52% to 48%, he would recommend looking again at Brexit when "we have a clear sense of where we're going".
Pressed on whether he thought there should be a second referendum, he said: "All I'm saying is a very, very simple thing, that this is the beginning of the debate - that if a significant part of that 52% show real change of mind, however you measure it, we should have the opportunity to reconsider this decision.
"Whether you do it through another referendum or another method, that's a second order question.
"But this issue is the single most important decision this country has taken since the Second World War and debate can't now be shut down about it."
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said the comments were arrogant and undemocratic but Lib Dem Nick Clegg said he "agreed with every word".
Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage said Mr Blair was "yesterday's man" while Downing Street said it was "absolutely committed" to seeing Brexit through.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson added: "I urge the British people to rise up and turn off the TV next time Blair comes on with his condescending campaign." Since taking office, he has apparently held two secret meetings with Mr Blair about the Middle East.
