Brexit Transition Extension Could Cost A “Stratospheric” Amount, Tory MP Warns

18 October 2018, 13:26

A Conservative Eurosceptic has warned extending the Brexit transition period could cost the British taxpayer a “stratospheric” amount of money.

Sir Bill Cash, chair of the European Scrutiny Committee, believes it’s now time for Theresa May to walk away from negotiations.

He was speaking as the Prime Minister said the UK’s transition out of the EU could be extended by a “matter of months”.

Its due to finish at the end of 2020, but Mrs May says says the extra time would help resolve the Irish border arrangements.

Sir Bill Cash warned extending the transition period could cost a "Stratospheric” Amount
Sir Bill Cash warned extending the transition period could cost a "Stratospheric” Amount. Picture: PA/LBC

Sir Bill, however, warned it could end up being a costly decision.

“If you go into a period of time after the 1st December 2020 then we automatically fall into a new financial arrangement called the Multi-Annual Financial Framework,” he told Nick Ferrari.

“You then have billions of billions of pounds, maybe even tens of billions and you’re liable to lose the rebate as well - which would take us into completely stratospheric amounts of money.

“The situation has been… that the basis in which these negotiations are being conducted is on EU terms.”

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

LBC callers react as the UK suspends trade talks with Israel

LBC callers react as the UK suspends trade talks with Israel

LBC callers react: UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions

LBC callers react: UK, France and Canada threaten Israel with sanctions

LBC caller ‘annoyed’ by reaction to UK-EU deal

LBC caller ‘annoyed’ by reaction to UK-EU deal

LBC caller tells Nick Ferrari: "You've got everything wrong for the last decade"

LBC caller tells Nick Ferrari: "You've got everything wrong for the last decade"

Gary Lineker 'to quit the BBC this week' | LBC reaction

LBC reaction: Gary Lineker quits the BBC

LBC callers react as Keir Starmer signs off his 'Brexit reset'

LBC callers react as Keir Starmer signs off his 'Brexit reset'

'British people don't want to pick fruit...'

Nick Ferrari won't take this caller's reasoning for the '9m economically inactive' in the UK

LBC caller’s plan to fix the care home sector

LBC caller’s plan to fix the care home sector

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

Trade deals, conclave and Reform UK: LBC’s best callers of the week

'Kemi Badnoch needs to get over herself'

'Woo-hoo!’: LBC caller reacts to the US-UK trade deal

'We went from back of the queue with Obama, to this'

Scottish farmer Murdo says that the US-UK deal is 'a big win for prime beef'

'In the Middle East, you're a laughing stock"

Caller Stewart says UK migration policy is "stirring up trouble"

'It's not a levelled playing field, is it...?'

LBC callers are divided over the UK-India trade deal

'we can hit net zero by accident'

Kneecap, Reform's 'turquoise tidal wave' and never leaving the UK | LBC's best callers of the week

'he'll bankrupt us, free speech is dead'

As Reform wins big, this LBC caller says 'Britain should be run by businesspeople'

Martyn Blake fatally shot Chris Kaba, 24, through the windscreen of his car in south London in 2022.

LBC caller with criminal past backs officer’s actions and reflects on police fairness