Theresa May ‘prepares £18billion divorce bill offer’ to break Brexit talks deadlock

THERESA MAY is gearing up to offer the EU an £18billion payment to the EU to try and break the Brexit talks deadlock.

Senior diplomats have told German leader Angela Merkel that Mrs May will offer the cash to plug a huge hole in the EU budget after Brexit.

The money in exchange for continued single market access will fill the giant hole in Brussels coffers created by our EU withdrawal.

The UK’s payments could also last until the next general election in 2022.

The PM hopes the offer will break a three-month deadlock in Brexit talks and persuade the EU to move on to opening up negotiations for a trade deal.

No10 sources refused to but insisted there would be no figure quoted in Mrs May’s Florence speech on Friday.

EU officials have repeatedly pressed for amounts up to £80billion, but ministers have insisted we won't pay any more that we have to.

The PM is set to brief her cabinet on the speech tomorrow, and to ensure they are all on board with her position.

However, one EU diplomat said there could be MORE cash payments to come - a divorce payment alongside a transition arrangement.

They told the FT: “Transition payments do not cancel the bill.”

The Sun has also learned that the transition period could last as long as 30 months.

It came as European Council president Donald Tusk announced he would fly to London next Tuesday for more Brexit talks with the PM.

The divorce bill reports come amid days of bitter cabinet infighting after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson's 4,000 word article to map out a ‘glorious Brexit’ last weekend.

Mr Johnson insisted the jumbo cash sums of £10bn a year must end the day we leave the EU - but Mrs May disagreed.

Yesterday he was forced to deny reports that he would quit over disagreements about Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary is set to stay on for the meantime, and accept Mrs May's plan for our EU exit.

He told the Guardian: "I don’t think the sums should be too high, but it is obviously legitimate and right that we should pay our dues – we are a law-abiding country – during the period of membership."

And he added: "I am loving this job. It is one of the greatest jobs in the world. It is a fantastic privilege.”

Senior Tory sources claimed the Foreign Secretary has come to terms with payments to the EU continuing after Brexit for a short period in exchange for continued single market access.

Boris has also been reassured that Theresa May will not suggest a Swiss-style model that would see Westminster have to shadow EU laws and euro judges’ verdicts.

He said of cabinet splits yesterday: “We are a nest of singing birds,” despite Home Secretary Amber Rudd accusing him on Sunday of "back-seat driving".