George Osborne under pressure over EU budget row
In other developments as the row grew:
:: Treasury ministers are to be hauled before MPs this week to explain why Mr Cameron was not informed of the impending1.7 billion charge from the European Union;
:: Mr Osborne is preparing to launch talks with other European finance ministers, ahead of a meeting on November 7 at which the dispute is expected to be discussed. The Chancellor will raise Britains concerns with the German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, and others, when they meet in Berlin this week at a global forum on tax transparency;
:: Senior Treasury officials are meeting this weekend, and will be speaking to their counterparts in the Netherlands, Italy, and Greece to build an alliance of countries to fight the extra demands for money.
:: Labours Treasury spokesman, Chris Leslie, wrote to Mr Osborne demanding that the Chancellor set out what he knew, when about the demand for more money. Mr Leslie told Mr Osborne he had serious questions to answerabout how long the government had known about the potential for Britain to be hit with such a massive surcharge;
:: A senior Member of the European Parliament warned that Mr Cameron would have to pay the 1.7 billion, saying the confusion was an entirely British affair and that the rest of Europe expects the UK to pay up;
:: It emerged that Britain would face EU fines worth more than 1.3 million a day for every day the country refuses to pay the extra bill.
The call for the extra cash, which followed a review of member states' economic performance since 1995, was described by Mr Cameron as "completely unacceptable".
The detailed demand for 1.7 billion was first sent to EU member state governments on October 17, several days before the information reached the Chancellor.
The Chancellor has said he learnt about the bill "earlier this week", but it appeared to catch the Prime Minister off guard.
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George Osborne under pressure over EU budget row