David Davis addressing the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington this afternoon

David Davis declined today to endorse a Cabinet colleague’s accusation that Brussels was trying to “blackmail” Britain into paying a multibillion-pound divorce bill.

The Brexit secretary, speaking in Washington, refused to back comments made earlier by Dr Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, who told ITV: “We can’t be blackmailed into paying a price”.

Mr Davis tried to laugh off the barb. Asked if he agreed with it, Mr Davis said he would live up to his reputation as a “charming bastard’, and stay silent.

“We are in a difficult tough, complicated negotiation,” he said. “I have said from the beginning it will be turbulent. What we’re having at the moment is the first ripple, and there will be more ripples along the way.”

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