Boris Johnson and David Davis press Theresa May to hold back on hiking up Brexit divorce Bill
BREXITEERS in the Cabinet are urging Theresa May NOT to hike Britain's Brexit divorce bill any further.
David Davis and Boris Johnson are reported to be arguing that the amount we will pay to leave should not go up - but EU leaders are insisting we promise more cash before we can move on to talking trade next month.
EU officials say we may not be able to move talks on in December's meeting without further guarantees.
Leaders will decide if “sufficient progress” has been made to move onto trade talks at December meeting next month — with the so called exit bill a major stumbling block in six months of talks so far.
Theresa May is prepared to make an offer of up to £20bn more in two weeks time.
The additional money would come on top of the £18billion the PM has said she will pay to secure a transition deal in her Florence speech in September.
Brexit bosses hope it will mean talks about the UK’s future relationship can finally be given the green light when all EU leaders meet on 14 December.
Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark are behind the Prime Minister - saying businesses must get certainty on Brexit as soon as possible.
But the Brexit beasts - allegedly backed by Micheal Gove and Liam Fox - are saying she should hold back some as leverage for next year's trade talks.
And that we shouldn't be coughing up more without knowing what we will get for it.
Back in July the Foreign Secretary said the EU could "go whistle" if it wanted to carry on demanding hefty sums of money.
An ally of Mr Johnson last night: "His feeling, along with that of others, is that once we have conceded the money we have lost any residual leverage we have in terms of the trading relationship.
"He is not opposed to making a payment but you cannot make that unilaterally before you know what you are getting in return."
And Mr Davis has warned the PM that "some money must be held back" to use next year, the Financial Times reported.