Britain to oppose £5.5bn rise in EU budget

The Government has criticised plans for an above-inflation rise in the European Union budget next year of 4.9 per cent, or £5.5bn, to £117bn.

Europe's budget commissioner, Janusz Lewandowski, acknowledged that his plan faced tough negotiations with EU national states, but insisted he had held the increase to what was required to fulfil the Commission's legal and financial obligations. A government spokesman said the UK would oppose the plan.