GETTY Britain has paid more than half a trillion pounds to the EU since it joined

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Since joining the bloc in 1973, Britain’s annual bill has skyrocketed in real terms from £1.8billion to almost £20billion. The staggering sum that British taxpayers have been burdened with comes just days before Theresa May triggers Article 50 and begins the process of pulling Britain out the crumbling Brussels bloc.

Experts have argued that even after rebates, refunds and public sector grants, the UK’s total net contribution stands at £184,535million up to the present day. Conservative MP Peter Bone and member of Leave Means Leave, described the amount as “horrifying”. David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, will use the data to counter Brussels’ demands that Britain must cough up £50billion as part of a Brexit bill for leaving the sprawling European superstate.

GETTY Theresa May will trigger Article 50 this week

In an article for the Sun on Sunday, Mr Davis pledged to get the best deal for the Britain during Brexit negotiations. He wrote: “We’re going to get out there, negotiate hard and deliver on what the people in the UK voted for.” Mr Davis added his department has been conducting “detailed analysis” of how Brexit will impact different sectors of the economy.

GETTY David Davis said his team had conducted "detailed analysis" on the impacts of Brexit

He wrote: “It’s been right to spend the time since the referendum with our heads down, doing the work to ensure we are in the best possible position as the UK embarks on this new chapter in its history. “I have been meeting people and businesses up and down the country to understand the challenges and opportunities of Brexit for them.” He added: “Officials in my department and across the Government have been doing detailed analysis to work out the implications of different outcomes for more than 50 sectors of the economy.

Brexit: Results of how the UK voted Mon, March 20, 2017 Much of the North East of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union including Sunderland, Gateshead, Darlington, Durham, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Redcar and Cleveland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside, and Northumberland Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 8 GREAT YARMOUTH: The town of Great Yarmouth on the East Coast of England voted by 72% to leave the European Union.

“And ministers have visited countries across Europe, and welcomed representatives of others to the UK.” But the Brexit Secretary also wrote that Government officials have reassured Eurocrats the UK will continue to be an ally of the EU after it has left the bloc.