'I did answer you!' Duncan Smith SLAPS DOWN Kay Burley in TV row over Brexit bill figure
BREXITEER Iain Duncan Smith got into a furious row with Sky News host Kay Burley after he said Brexit will not cost Britain anything, despite Theresa May's willingness to fork out to leave the bloc.
The feisty live TV interview began when Sky News host Kay Burley asked Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith how much Britain should pay to depart the EU, following speculation of a divorce bill of up to €55 million.
It was revealed by the Daily Express Theresa May will reject the extortionate demands from Brussels.
In response to the question, Mr Duncan Smith said that you have to look at how much money Britain will get back after it has left the Brussels bloc.
He said: “These talks about a proposal which has to be legally binding, in other words, has to be based on legalities, not horse trading, over a period of 40 years.”
Sky News
Mr Duncan Smith said that over a period of 40 years after leaving the EU, if Britain paid a 40 billion Brexit bill, it will receive £400 billion in return.
He said: “That is to say more money coming back to the UK at around about £360 billion. So, one way or the other the UK will benefit enormously in financial terms by leaving the EU.”
But Burley hit back and said: “Ok, but that wasn’t my question, with respect.
“How much is this divorce going to cost us do you think? How much is it worth to us to be rid of the European Union?”
It’s not costing us anything because we get back all of the money if we would have stayed in the EU
Mr Duncan Smith said he “did actually answer the question” and insisted Brexit will not cost Britain anything.
He said: “Actually it’s not costing us anything because net we get back all of the money that we would otherwise if we would have stayed in the EU, and we would have contributed.
“We no longer make contributions over that same 40 year period. That would amount to, in net terms, about 400 billion. That’s my point.
“So this 40 billion over that 40 years taken out, means about 360 billion will be coming back to the UK in total.”
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The Tory Brexiteer said the money Britain gets back from the EU can go towards its public services.
But he warned that the Brexit divorce bill is “tied to the arrangement” and if there is no trade deal then the money is “off the table”.
Mr Duncan Smith demanded the EU “settle down” and get on with a trade arrangement.
He said: “If they don’t want to do that then all this discussion about money just goes out the window, frankly.”
