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| Britain’s Secretary of State for Leave the EU David Davis leaves number 10 Downing Street after a cabinet meeting in London, November 29, 2016 |
Britain would consider making payments to the European Union in return for achieving the best possible access to the blocโs markets for businesses, Brexit minister David Davis said on Thursday.
The British government is in the process of formulating its negotiating position ahead of formal divorce talks next year, and businesses have been pressing for more clarity over the future relationship so they can better plan for Brexit.
Davis was asked repeatedly by lawmakers during a regular question session in parliament about the prospect of having to contribute to the EU budget.
โWithdrawing from the EU means the decisions on how we spend taxpayersโ money will be made in the United Kingdom,โ he said.
Asked by an opposition Labour lawmaker if the government would consider making โany contribution in any shape or formโ for access to the EUโs single market, Davis said it would.
โThe major criterion here is that we get the best possible access for goods and services to the European market and if that is included in what heโs talking about, then of course we would consider it,โ he said.
Sterling bounced to an almost three-month high in trade-weighted terms after Davisโs comments.
Prime Minister Theresa Mayโs spokeswoman said the comments were consistent with what the government had said about Britain deciding how taxpayersโ money will be spent.
Davis also dismissed media reports that Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson had told several EU ambassadors he supports freedom of movement, describing them as โcompletely at oddsโ with what he believed Johnsonโs view to be.
