Theresa May has been put on notice by hardline Conservative Eurosceptics that they could be prepared to vote against her final Brexit deal if the UK continues to pay the £50bn divorce bill for years to come or does not get good trade terms. Pro-leave cabinet ministers including Boris Johnson and Michael Gove have given the prime minister their backing over the bill, but also continue to insist it is conditional on Britain securing a good final trade agreement. But former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith made it clear their support was contingent on satisfactory trade terms in subsequent rounds of negotiation with the European Union. If there is no trade deal, then my view – and I would think the whole of the party’s view – would be we don’t owe them any money at all. Brussels sources rejected any linkage between the Brexit bill and the final trade deal, suggesting the UK will be disappointed in the belief that it will only have to pay the money if the trade terms are good enough.

Source: The Guardian November 29, 2017 18:35 UTC