UK may pay for access to single market, says David Davis

Brexit secretary David Davis has suggested that Britain may pay for access to the European single market once it leaves the EU.

Davis said the government would consider its options during divorce negotiations with the trading block.

He said that he wanted the “best possible access for goods and services to the European market” and that the government would consider making a contribution in exchange for retaining access.

“The simple answer we have given to this before is, and it’s very important because there is a distinction between picking off an individual policy and setting out a major criteria, and the major criteria here is that we get the best possible access for goods and services to the European market.”

On news of potential payments to the EU, the pound rose against the dollar by 1.07% to 1.2640 and was up 0.81% to 1.1906 against the euro.

Britain pays about £8bn a year net to the EU budget and is one of the bloc's biggest contributors.

Davis’s comments also come after a document was photographed revealing that the government wanted to “have its cake and eat it” when it came to Brexit.

Defending Johnson

In the House of Commons, Davis also defended foreign secretary Boris Johnson after Sky News revealed that he told ambassadors that he favoured the free movement of people across the continent.

“What I've seen [...] strikes me completely at odds with what I know about my right honourable friend's approach to this matter. He believes very clearly, and he made this very clear in the Leave campaign because he was a much more major part of it than I was, that some immigration is useful. We all agree on that. That's not the same as thinking free movement of people as it now stands is a good idea. It's a problem."