Breaking On Sky News: 1.7 Billion Bill To Be Paid

[ChillDoubt]

over 2 installments apparently.

[janbee]

Yes, Gideon has just announced he will pay it in 2 instalments. So much for all their tough talk !

[ChillDoubt]

Oh dear. Only 20 minutes ago I was watching footage of George Osborne telling a camera crew how robustly he was going to fight the UK's corner.
Obviously would struggle to box his way out of a wet paper bag.
Bring on Farage and UKIP to save us from this debacle aka the EU.

[Zacs-Master]

I suppose they thought it might be overshadowed by the Ed leadership story. One could almost assume that the Cons had 'leaked' the story as a smoke screen. Not me of course.

[janbee]

Chill, I agree 100% on that

[ChillDoubt]

Miliband must be thankful that the main headlines will now shift from him.
Can't wait to hear what DC has to say on the matter.
Claims are now being made that the amount is reduced, but there is a lot of small print and no little spin to be waded through first.

[Baldric]

Much as I am unimpressed with UKIP, when you look at the various Party Leaders, Farage does appear to be the only one that looks the part and talks a good fight, it's just a shame about some of the Nutters the Party seems to attract.

[Prudie]

Well this is only 15 minutes old so which is right?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29939774

[VHG]

C'mon everyone, be fair, someone has to pay for the MEPs expenses, first class air flights, 5 star hotels, chauffer driven cars, meals at top restaurants and so on.

The fact the many of the countries in Europe are going bust, the Euro zone is in turmoil, even Germany is predicting little growth next year.

The quicker the EU implodes and collapses on itself the better.

It is just a vast, overblown, costly "civil service" that has now become too big and expensive for itself.

Lets get out and leave them to it.

[Milvus]

On Sky news Osborne is saying the UK will pay half (£850m) and that will be split into two payments
http://news.sky.com/story/1368932/uk-halves-eu-surcharge-osborne-says

[ichkeria]

"Much as I am unimpressed with UKIP, when you look at the various Party Leaders, Farage does appear to be the only one that looks the part and talks a good fight, it's just a shame about some of the Nutters the Party seems to attract. "

It would be a real shame if Ed Miliband were to be pushed out. I'm afraid that the problems he is having seem more to do with the Great British Public's scepticism for intellectual people of ideas (you may not like the ideas but that doesn't seem to be the main reason even some of his own party are questioning him)
Faced with a clever geeky Miliband or a populist beer-swilling Farage or a smoothie chameleon Cameron, the geek is probably always going to miss out , which makes me glad all the same we don't have a Presidential system ...

[ichkeria]

sorry that was slightly off topic.
Do we now assume that Cameron is now going to pay the bill he said he def wasn't going to a short while before.
If so I bet he can't wait for Ed to chomp another baconburger or bypass another street beggar to get the news back in focus ...

[ChillDoubt]

Yes, confusion abounds. Some of the other EU reps present are claiming that no figure was agreed upon.
Like I said, we're going to need the dust to settle before the bones are picked out of it.

I want someone to categorically say: The UK will be paying half AND NOT A PENNY MORE AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE.
Until then, I'll remain sceptical.

[dannyk13]

Just now on Classic fm. George Osborne states that he has halved the bill which will be paid at a later date.

[Noe-schitt]

I think you are jumping the gun here

[youngmafbog]

// populist beer-swilling Farage//

Are you implying he is not as clever as Milliband? Who was it who has worked outside of Westminster I wonder?

Our Nige must be laughing his *** off right now.

Both main parties are in total disarray of their own doing.

He wont win and election but hopefully will get enough to force an election so we can get out of this whole sorry mess because lets face it Milliband refuses to give one and who trusts Cameron?

[youngmafbog]

I suspect he means he has halved the bill for immediate payment, the other half to be paid, no doubt with interest and charges, at a later date.

[dannyk13]

No, he definitely stated he had halved the bill.

[Jomlett]

From BBC News...UK's £1.7bn bill to EU 'halved' says Osborne

Breaking news
The UK will only have to pay half of the £1.7bn budget surcharge demanded by the EU, Chancellor George Osborne has said.

[dannyk13]

Here

http://www.itv.com/news/

[Jomlett]

Mr Osborne said the UK would make two payments next year totalling £850m instead of £1.7bn in a lump sum by December.