Eurocrats set up a battle with No 10 yesterday by unveiling contingency plans that would see UK taxpayers pour an extra £6.7 billion into euro coffers.

One senior EU official insisted: “Even if there was a no deal there would have to be a financial settlement on the EU budget.”

But top Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng hit back: “If there is a No Deal they won’t get a penny pinch from us.”