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Britain is prepared to pay a Brexit divorce bill of up to £36bn, a shock report claims today.

If true the figure - more than £1,100 for every taxpayer in Britain - would expose a major compromise on behalf of the UK government.

Despite Brexit being formally triggered in March, Britain and Brussels are still grappling over how much the UK owes the continent.

It is one of the first stumbling blocks along with the issue of 3.2million EU citizens' rights to remain and the Northern Ireland border.

Just weeks ago Boris Johnson said the EU could "go whistle" for any demands that were "extortionate" - amid rumours of a €100bn bill.

But Brexit Secretary David Davis then admitted Britain will continue to have "obligations" after leaving the EU in March 2019.

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Now three separate sources have confirmed a figure of £36billion to the Sunday Telegraph.

According to the newspaper, it could be offered on the condition that it is part of a deal on future relations and trade.

The newspaper also reports that the EU's opening demand now sits at a slightly more modest €60bn, not €100bn.

A source said: "We know their position is €60bn, but the actual bottom line is €50bn. Ours is closer to €30bn, but the landing zone is €40bn, even if the public and politicians are not all there yet."

A government source told the Mirror today's story "really is nonsense - that's not where we are".

(Image: AFP)

But a second Whitehall source would not deny the £36bn figure, saying only it was "speculation".

The second source also pointed to Mr Davis' statement on Britain's "obligations", which was seen as paving the way for a compromise.

The source added: "[David Davis] has obviously made clear on a number of occasions that we will meet our international responsibilities but we're not going to pay more than we need to."