Theresa May flies the Brexit flag in Brussels

BRITISH Prime Minister Theresa May attended an EU leader’s summit in Brussels to argue Britain’s case for a smooth Brexit.

She made it clear that she wanted an early deal on the position of Britons in Europe and EU citizens in the UK and this seems to have been well received by the majority of the leaders of the other 27 countries with one EU leader reportedly commenting that negotiations would be entered into in “a spirit of trust and unity.”

Understandably she was not invited to attend a Brexit dinner meeting but although some sources have suggested that she was something of a ‘no mates Norma,’ pictures from the summit have shown her in spirited and apparently friendly discussion with other leaders.

One EU bone of contention appears to be a split between the European Commission which wants to be effectively the sole negotiating body on behalf of the Union, whilst the European Parliament is insisting the MEPs should also be involved and have their say.

There has however been something of a financial shock as it has been suggested that once Britain does invoke Article 50 then it could be handed a bill for £50 billion (€59 billion) in order to meet pension and salary obligations for all British staff working for the Union and Parliament and to pay for all areas of expenditure that it has voted in favour of during its period of membership and which are not yet completed.

During the visit, Mrs May also announced that Britain would be giving a further £20 million (€23.8 million) by way of aid to those most affected by the troubles in Aleppo.