Membership of the European Union costs each person in Britain nearly £900 a year, according to a report by a Eurosceptic think-tank.
The Bruges Group says that contributions to Brussels, red tape and higher food prices will cost the British economy more than £50 billion this year — £100,000 a minute. It claims that the Government has not been open about the true cost of membership, and concludes that Britain would be economically better off outside the Union. Robert Oulds, director of the group, said: “Imagine what we could do in Britain with the £50.6 billion that the EU costs us each year.”
The Treasury dismissed the report as misleading, saying that Britain’s contribution to Brussels was £4.5 billion this year. “Membership is central to the pursuit of stability, growth and employment in the UK,” a spokesman said. “Membership provides significant benefits for UK business and employment.”