Threat to renege on bill - UK increasingly loud on Brexit
The Government regards the suggestion by the UK’s new Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab, that Britain could refuse to pay its €39bn divorce bill to Brussels if it does not get a trade deal as an “empty threat”.
That may well be so, but it is a threat nonetheless and reflects the growing stridency of Brexit negotiators in their dealings with the EU.
Mr Raab accused the EU of “irresponsibly” ramping up pressure in withdrawal negotiations, but the threat to row back on what was agreed last November is hardly reasonable or responsible.
It is also dangerous for the UK. Prime minister Theresa May has repeatedly spoken of her desire to seek out bilateral agreements with the US and other trading partners. Indeed, that has been central to the decision to leave the EU.
However, going it alone is not a free-for-all. The essenceof international trade agreements is that the parties to themfollow through and do not renege on their responsibilities.
If the UK is seen as unreliable and untrustworthy, it could make potential trading partners think twice before signing agreements and turn the dream of Brexit into a nightmare.
