Britain’s contribution to EU has risen by £2.7bn, quadrupling in five years

Britain’s contributions to the European Union soared by £2.7bn net last year in a revelation that will pile more pressure on David Cameron not to meet demands on Brussels for extra money.

The figures emerged in a publication from the Office for National Statistics, which showed that since 2008 the UK’s payments have quadrupled, to £11.3bn.

They are likely to inflame the Eurosceptic wing of the Tory party and draw taunts from Ukip at a time when many are already angered about the EU’s demands for an extra £1.7bn from Britain, which Cameron has declined to pay.

The increase in the contribution is mainly due to a £3bn rise in the payment based on the UK’s total gross national income (GNI), which is linked to the member state’s estimate of economic activity within a budget year relative to other EU member states. The UK’s rebate increased from £3.1bn in 2012 to £3.7bn in 2013, the ONS said.

Responding to the news, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The prime minister’s views on the EU budget are well known. He is absolutely clear that we should be doing all we can to bring down EU spending and get control of the overall EU budget. What we achieved with the seven-year framework – which was the first ever cut in the EU’s budget – is vital because that is was affects the UK’s contribution.”

The net figures – which take into account the UK’s rebate – show the UK’s contribution to the EU was £2.7bn in 2008, rising to £3.8bn in 2009, £7.2bn in 2010, £7.5bn in 2011, £8.5bn in 2012 and £11.3bn in 2013.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Business for Britain campaign group, said: “Despite David Cameron securing a historic EU budget cut, the cost of the EU to UK taxpayers continues to spiral out of control. We cannot continue to write bigger and bigger cheques to remain a member of an unreformed and uncompetitive European Union.

“Business is struggling under mounds of EU red tape and the UK economy is threatened by yet another potential eurozone recession. We must secure a new deal from Brussels and that will only be possible through a referendum.”

The prime minister has said he will not pay “anything like” the £1.7bn extra demanded by Brussels because of adjustments to its funding formula. He has, however, left the door open to a compromise where Britain would pay some of it.

Treasury sources said there were two reasons the contributions were higher than in recent years: first, the economy has been doing better than other EU member states; and second, Britain’s rebate was lower than it had been under the last government.

The Treasury had predicted that Britain would pay up more like £8.6bn last year but it hugely underestimated the actual contributions.
What are the most important parts of this text?
Figures will fuel Eurosceptic wing of Tories and provide support to PM in his refusal to pay extra £1.7bn demanded by Brussels