David Cameron refuses to pay as ‘appalling’ European Union demands an extra £1.7bn a year
A spokesman for the European Commission likened UK annual contribution to personal taxation – 'the more a person earns, the more they have to pay.'
18:04 24 October 2014
Due to the success of UK economy, the European Union has demanded an extra £1.7bn contribution by December. Currently, the UK already contributes £8.7bn a year.
A spokesman for the European Commission said it was fair because it was like personal taxation. Patrizio Fiorilli explained: "Britain's contribution reflects an increase in wealth, just as in Britain you pay more to the Inland Revenue if your earnings go up."
An urgent meeting was demanded by Prime Minister David Cameron following the news. At the EU summit in Brussels, he told European Commission president Jose Manual Barroso he had no idea how the public will react about the demand.
Cameron wrote on Twitter: “I'm angry at the sudden presentation of a €2bn bill to the UK by the EU. It's an appalling way to behave and I won't be paying it on Dec 1st”
Meanwhile, a source said that Downing Street will challenge the demand: “It's not acceptable to just change the fees for previous years and demand them back at a moment's notice.
"The European Commission was not expecting this money and does not need this money and we will work with other countries similarly affected to do all we can to challenge this."
Cameron went on to say at a press conference: “It is an unacceptable way for this organisation to work – to suddenly present a bill like this for such a vast sum of money with so little time to pay it. And it is an unacceptable way to treat one of the biggest contributors to the European Union.
“It is an appalling way to behave. I am not paying that bill on December 1. If people think I am they have got another thing coming.”
UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who has centred his campaign about breaking away from the EU, was unhappy about the news.
"Well, we already pay £55m a day as a membership fee to this club," he said.
"To be asked for a whole load more, and given a few days in which to pay it, is pretty outrageous and I think people will be very, very angry.
"It just leaves Mr Cameron in a hopeless condition, because don't forget, one of his big claims was he'd cut the EU budget. The result of that cut was actually our contribution had already gone up a little bit and now it's gone up a load.
"The EU is like a thirsty vampire feasting on UK taxpayers' blood. We need to protect the innocent victims, who are us."