Brussels have finally realised that they’re left to plug the massive financial gap

Reality cheque
THE EU is finally waking up to the massive financial cost to them of a No Deal Brexit.

Budget commissioner Günther Oettinger warns Germany will be forced to fork out hundreds of millions to plug the massive gap left by Britain walking away without having to hand over its £39billion divorce fee.

Throughout the negotiations, we have approached the EU in good faith and offered to honour our commitments.

But Brussels’ stubborn refusal to compromise has pushed us ever closer to leaving without a deal. And, without our cash, the EU now realises there will be a massive black hole in their coffers.

EU chiefs mistakenly thought they had us over a barrel and could use their leverage to get whatever they wanted.

But they are now waking up to the fact that Theresa May’s Brexit deal is unlikely to get the nod and, with no deal legally our default position, a clean break looms.

The refusal to give our PM any concessions does not look so wise now.

The Sun has long questioned if the EU would ever prioritise their economies and citizens’ jobs over a zealous desire to punish Britain for leaving.

Perhaps Mr Oettinger’s comments suggest that reality is finally dawning.

Border farce
IT is shocking that Britain has just TWO boats to police 7,700 miles of shoreline.

Organised gangs are taking advantage of our easily penetrable coast to traffick desperate people who will risk their lives in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes to get here.

As many as 450 people have tried to cross over from France in just two months. How many more have slipped in under the radar?

If these people aren’t discouraged from taking such lethal risks then Britain’s beaches and ports will become as tempting as those in Spain and Italy.

Our Government must stop more arriving. And France, too, needs to take responsibility. President Macron must not allow Calais to be turned into another giant Jungle camp.

Otherwise there will be needless blood on all of our hands.

Plug the holes
THE Sun’s Keep it Down campaign, launched in 2011 to freeze fuel duty, has succeeded in putting an extra £24billion into consumers’ pockets. Good.

Without it, petrol prices could have risen to a shocking £1.50 a litre. But away from the petrol pumps, motorists are still getting a raw deal.

Over half a million potholes were reported last year. The amount has risen 33 per cent in the last two years.

It’s about time the Treasury puts the tax it claws from motorists towards properly looking after our roads.