EU’s tantrum over Brexit divorce bill: Brussels orders Britain to ‘get serious’ and pay up… but it’s accused of trying to hold us to ransom

‘The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator was accused of trying to hold Britain to ransom over the so-called ‘divorce bill’ last night as talks threatened to descend into acrimony.
At a meeting in Brussels, Michel Barnier lashed out at Brexit Secretary David Davis for refusing to say how much Britain was willing to pay towards the EU’s demand for about £74billion.
In the most hostile confrontation of Brexit talks so far, Mr Barnier tried to scold Mr Davis, telling him: ‘We must start negotiating seriously.’
He warned there would be no trade deal unless Britain coughed up, despite German business leaders calling for an early agreement.
Last night a British source hit back, dismissing the remarks as ‘inconsistent, ill-judged, ill-considered and unhelpful for the next round of negotiations’. And MPs accused Mr Barnier of making ‘outrageous’ demands without any legal justification.’
Read more: EU’s tantrum over Brexit divorce bill: Brussels orders Britain to ‘get serious’ and pay up… but it’s accused of trying to hold us to ransom