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Minutes of internal talks circulated by the Brussels Brexit negotiation explicitly warn against pursuing Britain for extra payments, according to the Sunday Telegraph. A senior EU source told the newspaper: “It was the clear view of the Commission that it would be legally impossible to defence the idea that the entire seven-year budget plan was a binding commitment on the UK, and that insisting the UK pay after Brexit would give them an excuse to walk.”

The Commission’s original position was to concur with the British Government’s contention that European demands on the UK’s “debt” to the EU are legally unsound and highly exaggerated. But despite the warnings, EU member states are arrogantly pushing ahead with the extortionate £85billion demand, inexplicably hiked up from the original £50billion amount. EU member states are also demanding Britain continues to keep paying for farm subsidies after March 2019.

GETTY The Commission warned against charging Britain the exorbitant bill

Snap election 2017: The pictures politicians may not want you to see Sat, May 27, 2017 Protests, fights and daleks, it all happened when the politicians hit the campaign trail for the snap election Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 48 A UK Independence Party supporter (L) scuffles with a pro-europe supporter ahead of a visit by UKIP leader Paul Nuttall to Hartlepool

GETTY Theresa May has accused the EU of meddling with the General Election

But commission lawyers explained that because contributions to farm subsidies only become legal obligations after the annual budget is agreed, Britain cannot be forced to pay them after exiting the bloc. Brussels’ arbitrary decision to increase the divorce bill has caused fury in Downing Street, and widened divisions with the Government. During a No 10 dinner with Theresa May this week Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker accused the Prime Minister of living in “another galaxy”.

In pictures: Theresa May meets with EU's Tusk Thu, April 6, 2017 The two leaders held talks on Brexit negotiations Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 9 European Council President Donald Tusk gestures to members of the media as he leaves 10 Downing street after talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May in central London

GETTY Jean Claude Juncker accused the Prime MInister of living in "another galaxy"