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The ECJ ruled the UK breached EU law by failing to notify eurocrats of a zero rates of VAT given to commodities traders. As a result, the court ordered the UK to pay for Brussels’ legal costs from the lengthy trial. But Express.co.uk readers have reacted furiously to the news, and suggested all the EU wants is to get its hands on the UK’s money.

Writing on our Facebook page, Doreen Cooper wrote: “It’s all about the money. Money money money money money nothing else.

“It has been so easy for them to get money from the UK in the past. Not any more.”

Patti Wells agreed, and said: “You have had enough of our money now the want to sue us WHY WHAT FOR….someone tell them there nothing left we are helping our own now.”

Brian Jones mocked the ruling, and wrote: “It’s called clutching at straws.”

Johnny Biggs said the demand shows the EU is finally showing its true colours.

He wrote: “There you go true colours from the rotten EU all us Leavers have being saying this for three years just walk away from them they will always want control over us even though we have left.”

Other readers celebrated the fact Britain has left the EU, and will no longer have to abide by its laws from January 1, 2021.

Philip Murray wrote: “I have a lot to say about this, but the only thing that really matters is getting to the end of the transition period and completing Brexit.”

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Hilary Robinson said: “Brussels are not, never have been and never will be our friends.

“The sooner Boris stops referring to them as such, the better.

“We have been nothing more than a cash cow to the EU and now they’re punishing us for having the audacity to leave and withdraw our funding.”

Another reader suggested this wouldn’t have happened if the UK left on no deal terms.

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They wrote: “We voted out 17.4 million in 2016 if we just walked then with no deal and went WTO and told EU to get stuffed.”

The EU sued Britain in response to a tax row that broke out in 2018, when eurocrats claimed the UK had been extending the scope of zero rates for VAT.

Tax breaks had initially been given to trade in the future prices of metal, rubber, coffee, sugar, vegetable oil, wool, silver grain, barley and cocoa in the 1970s.

But it was claimed the policy had been extended to cover trades on the London potato market, the International Petroleum Exchange of London, the London meat futures market, the London platinum and palladium market, the London Securities and Derivatives Exchange and the London bullion market.

The Commission said the Government had failed to notify them of the changes.

In response to the ECJ’s ruling, a Treasury spokesperson said: “We are reviewing the decision of the European court of justice and will provide further details on next steps in due course.

“The decision does not require businesses to pay any VAT on historic transactions, and the law applying to derivatives trades today means no VAT is due. That will remain the case while the UK considers next steps in light of the ruling.”

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