GETTY Britain's huge EU membership costs are a major reason why people voted Leave

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This huge sum could have paid for more than 1,000 major hospitals and could funded the annual English education budget 15 times over, according to Brexit campaigners. Conservative MPs have pushed Prime Minister Theresa May to go for a ‘hard Brexit’ after the shocking figures were revealed.

Instead of funding eurocrats' vanity projects, the British people want the billions we send to Brussels to be spent on our priorities such as schools and the NHS Dominic Raab MP

Dominic Raab, MP for Esher and Walton and a founding member of Change Britain, said: “It’s why we must leave the EU’s single market and take back control of our money. “It’s what people voted for on 23 June – politicians of all parties should respect the result and work together to deliver this.” He added: “One of the reasons people voted Leave is because they are fed up with the eye-watering sums of money we send to the EU each and every year.

“Instead of funding eurocrats' vanity projects, the British people want the billions we send to Brussels to be spent on our priorities such as schools and the NHS. “That's why we must...take back control of our money.”

GETTY Dominic Raab MP has been a key supporter of Britain's EU exit

The £527billion figure represents Britain’s gross contribution to the EU and excludes the rebate it receives. It is also based on adjusted figures from the Office for National Statistics. Britain and Germany are the only two EU members that have consistently been net contributors to Brussels’ finances, with the UK’s net contribution since 1973 standing at £175.69billion.

GETTY FILE IMAGE Mr Raab has claimed the money should be spent on British hospitals and schools

Peak inside the £270m home of the European Council Tue, May 16, 2017 This will become the new home of the European Council Play slideshow 1 of 11