Brexit: Boris Johnson dismisses paying EU ‘large sums’ of money in return for market access

The Foreign Secretary said: 'My view is that I see no reason why those payments should be large'

The Foreign Secretary said that Brexit would mean ‘taking back control’ of Britain’s finances (Reuters)

Boris Johnson has cast aside the idea of paying large sums into the EU after Brexit in return for market access as “speculation” – despite his Cabinet colleague revealing he would consider it.

Just last week in the Commons David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, surprised MPs by revealing the Government is potentially willing to pay the EU in return for retaining access to the single market.

It was the first time any minister has admitted Theresa May’s administration is open to the idea of paying Brussels to secure access to the trading bloc for British businesses and immediately led to a surge in the pound.

Hours later Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, also said the Government should not rule out the concept, adding that Mr Davis “is absolutely right not to rule out the possibility that we might want to contribute in some way to some form of mechanism”.

But asked about his colleagues’ comments on BBC’s The Andrew Marr Show, the Foreign Secretary said: “It is obviously something David Davis is considering, it doesn’t mean a decision has been made. I’m not going to get involved … what I will say … I do believe, as a result of Brexit, we will be able to take back control of the money that we currently give to Brussels.

Mr Johnson, who led the official Leave campaign during the EU referendum, added: “People say ‘what about the £350m’ and ‘what about your bus’ – and they are right to raise it. But the crucial thing to understand is that very large sums of money will be coming back to this country, which will be capable on being spent on priorities such as the NHS.”

Asked about specifically buying access to the EU’s markets, Mr Johnson added: “That is a speculation.

“I’ve given you an indication of the kind of payments I think might be sensible … my view is that I see no reason why those payments should be large. I do see a big opportunity for us to take the money that we’re getting back and spend it on other priorities.”

Taking questions in the Commons last week, Mr Davis was asked if the Government would consider making any contribution, in any shape or form, for access to the single market.

He responded: "The simple answer we have given to this before is, and it's very important because there is a distinction between picking off an individual policy and setting out a major criteria, and the major criteria here is that we get the best possible access for goods and services to the European market. If that is included in what you are talking about then of course we would consider it."