Brexit secretary: UK would consider paying EU for Single Market access
Brexit secretary David Davis has revealed that the UK is prepared to consider paying to the European Union to secure terms on Single Market access.
Speaking in the House of Commons this morning, Davis was asked by Labour Caerphilly MP Wayne David whether the government would consider making “any contribution in any shape or form” for access to the Single Market.
“The major criterion here is that we get the best possible access for goods and services to the European Market and if that is included in what he is talking about, then of course we would consider it,” Davis responded.
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A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said today that Davis' comments were not inconsistent with the government's approach.
"It will be for the UK government to make decisions on how tax payers money will be spent," they said.
"As we approach this negotiation we want to get the best possible access for British businesses to trade with an operate in the Single Market while also taking back control on migration."
Paying for access to the Single Market is suggestion previously mooted by Brexiteer Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi, among others.
The UK's contribution to the EU budget, after receiving a rebate, has been estimated at £12.9bn in 2015.
The UK received total public sector receipts from the EU budget of £4.4bn, making an estimated net contribution of £8.5bn in 2015.
It comes after foreign secretary Boris Johnson was forced to rubbish claims suggesting that he has been privately backing freedom of movement, while notes carried by an MP's aide from a meeting at Davis' Brexit ministry earlier this week branded the government's strategy of “have cake and eat it”.