Mike Graham reminded Lord Adonis that Britain had already left the EU and was not liable for huge payouts to Brussels anymore. The talkRADIO broadcaster took the prominent Remainer to task on-air after the Labour peer claimed it was Britain’s “duty” to help its former EU counterparts. Graham blasted this, telling Lord Adonis that even Remainers could see the EU was “falling apart at the seams” and the UK had no obligation to fund a huge Brussels bailout.

This comes amid fears Britain “would be forced to subsidise EU response to coronavirus if it agreed to Brexit extension”.

No 10 has been facing growing pressure to seek an extension to the current transition period, which is due to end on 31st December.

The rejection of an extension stems from a concern that the EU will demand “massive” payments to help deal with the impact of the pandemic.

A source close to the negotiations said that paying into an EU budget was “clearly not in the national interest”, telling the Telegraph: “We need to spend money on our own needs in our own way.”

JUST IN: Boris told to tear up £39billion divorce bill if EU fail to agree deal

At this difficult time for frontline doctors and nurses, sign up here to show your support now to our brave NHS Heroes.

Speaking on talkRadio, Graham pointed out that the EU “behaved disgracefully when it came to not helping Italy”.

Lord Adonis responded: “Well, we are still in the early stages of this….”

This prompted Graham to fire back: “Italy is not! Italy was begging the EU for help and didn’t get any.”

Lord Adonis turned the debate on the UK, saying the EU will soon come asking the UK for funds as well and he suggested that Boris Johnson should pay up.

He said: “That is a debate that also affects us in due course, whether we feel we have any duty to help with the reconstruction of the countries worst affected.”

Graham rebutted: “I don’t think we do, do we? Because we are not in the EU. We have already left.”

Lord Adonis said: “But whether we have an interest in economic rejuvenation in Europe is a big question for us going forward. Are we just an island? Will we pull up the drawbridge?”

DON’T MISS: 

Captain Tom Moore’s JustGiving page crashes: Fundraising site overwhelmed by donations [VIDEO]
EU will force UK to fund huge eurozone bailout once Brexit extension is agreed [VIDEO]
‘I’ll make something up!’ Lancashire police officer makes disturbing arrest threat [VIDEO]

Graham pointed out there is a “big difference” between foreign aid, when you help countries out of a moral duty, as opposed to “being forced to help them because you are part of this club where they to you for money all the time”.

Lord Adonis told talkRADIO that there is “nothing in the EU that forces you to help reconstruct another member-state,” prompting the radio host to intervene: “Then what is the point of it?”

Graham then ridiculed the Remainer after Lord Adonis claimed the point of the EU was to “maintain open, free trade”.

The talkRADIO host said: “So that is why they shut all the borders then? Its falling apart at the seams, you might as well admit it!”

Source: Read Full Article