EU leaders to insist UK pays its Brexit bills as precursor to trade talks

Summit to toughen stance as one diplomat says Britain is not only on a different planet but in a different galaxy over divorce

EU leaders will toughen their stance on Britain paying its Brexit bills when they agree negotiating guidelines at a special summit on Saturday.

EU diplomats have agreed unanimously that Britain must settle its bills before embarking on trade talks. The position has been set out by EU leaders from the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, to the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, but this will be the toughest statement yet from all 27 countries.