GETTY Germany is proposing a Europe-wide petrol levy to pay for the migrant crisis

FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

The country’s finance minister provoked outright fury when he suggested that a windfall tax should be slapped on petrol in the UK to raise cash to combat the refugee crisis. Wolfgang Schaeuble said the European Union should be able to milk motorists for every litre of petrol sold on our shores, with the proceeds going towards helping states cope with the influx of migrants.

Critics today branded the proposal “pernicious“ and said it demonstrates how Britain will never be free of EU madness unless it votes to leave the 28-nation bloc. The scheme is bound to infuriate David Cameron, coming at a critical time for his much-criticised negotiations to wrestle back key powers from Brussels ahead of an in/out referendum on Britain’s membership. In a controversial interview with respected broadsheet paper Süddeutsche Zeitung Mr Schaeuble, who is Angela Merkel’s right-hand man, said that no measures should be off the table when it comes to dealing with the migrant crisis.

GETTY The plan would see petrol prices rocket in Britain

GETTY It was proposed by German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble

He said: "I have said, if the funds are not sufficient in the national budgets and the European budget, then let us agree, for example, that we impose a levy on each litre of gasoline at a certain height. “The problem must be solved at a European level, otherwise, it won't just be Germany that suffers the consequences, as some seem to think, but our neighbours will be massively affected too, as will the Balkans, and all the way down to Greece. Things are moving too slowly in Europe. “I support, with the full force of my convictions, what the chancellor says: we need to solve the problem starting from Europe's external borders. Europe will find itself in an even bigger crisis. "Why should we not arrange to meet European leaders, if the task is so urgent? We need to secure the Schengen external borders now. The solution to these problems must not fail due to a limitation of funds."

The controversial proposal is likely to spark outright fury in other countries, especially front line states which blame Mrs Merkel for fuelling the huge influx of migrants into the continent. Many other EU members believe that the German leader’s offer to house all Syria refugees was reckless and ill-thought out and hold her responsible for the huge migratory pressures they have endured since. It also provoked anger in Britain, which is not part of the Schengen zone but would still be expected to comply with such a tax. UKIP’s migration spokesman Steven Woolfe said that it proves the UK will never be free of Brussels’ meddling unless it votes to leave the EU in the upcoming referendum.

GETTY More than 1.1 million migrants arrived in Germany last year

GETTY After an initial warm welcome tensions have been raised due to recent migrant sex attacks

This is a pernicious idea from a German finance minister who is having to find the money to pay for Mrs Merkel's disastrous open door asylum policy UKIP's Steven Woolfe

He said: “This is a pernicious idea from a German finance minister ‎who is having to find the money to pay for Mrs Merkel's disastrous open door asylum policy. “The desperation of German policymakers to fix their colossal mistake of welcoming so many migrants in such an uncontrolled way is not something that the UK motorist should be liable for. “The days when Britain picked up the tab for German folly are long gone. What's more worrying is that Schaeuble thinks that it is now within his remit to propose EU wide tax policy affecting all members. “It is yet another example of what Britain can expect if we don't vote to Leave the EU.”

The revelations will also seriously dent Mr Cameron’s hopes of keeping Britain in the EU, coming at a particularly delicate time in his faltering negotiations with other European leaders. One of the Prime Minister’s key reform pledges is to exempt the UK from being adversely affected by decisions taken by Eurozone countries, including having to contribute to future bailouts of debt-ridden countries such as Greece. But these developments show that Britain could still be stung by other European countries for huge amounts of cash to pay for problems in which we play no part, including the chaotic disintegration of the Schengen zone. Earlier this week the EU’s head of migration warned that the 28-nation bloc will fall apart if the free movement zone fails, indicating that member states must do everything possible to keep it intact regardless of the societal cost.

Germany took in 1.1 million migrants last year after Mrs Merkel threw open the borders to all asylum seekers from Syria. But her open door policy has provoked a furious backlash in recent weeks following revelations that refugees have been linked to a series of horrific sex crimes, including the rapes on New Year’s Eve in Cologne when 1,000 migrant men went on the rampage targeting women out celebrating. Since then revelations about more sex assaults which took place last autumn has begun to emerge, raising fears that politically correct authorities have presided over a sinister cover-up to protect the reputations of migrants. Today one of the Mrs Merkel’s conservative party’s deputy leaders rejected the idea of extra taxation to cover the cost of the migrant crisis, saying countries like Germany have big enough budget surpluses to cope. Julia Kloeckner said: “I’m strictly against any tax increase in light of the good budgetary situation.”

Cologne: Sex Attacks and Robberies Tue, January 12, 2016 Thirty-one suspects, including 18 asylum seekers, are under investigation over offences including sexual assault and theft in Cologne on New Year's Eve. Far right protestors in Lepzig have rallied against refugees and German chancellor Angela Merkel. Play slideshow Reuters•Getty 1 of 22 Protestors in Lepzig rally after over 100 women were sexually assualted on New Year's Eve