David Cameron: UK won't pay £1.7bn to EU budget

Nick Clegg has insisted he and David Cameron are "as one" in their outrage at the extra money demanded from the UK for the EU budget.

"We are not going to pay this money by the December 1 deadline that has been set," the Deputy Prime Minister told his weekly LBC radio phone-in.

"It is a completely arbitrary, random way to behave to suddenly have this bill dropped into your lap without any warning and without any explanation.;"

Mr Clegg added that the UK needed to "build alliances" to challenge the European Commission demands, adding: "We are not going to pay this money. It is not a way to do these things. It is not just a British problem, it is a European problem.

Analysis: Osborne's Berlin trip overshadowed by £1.7bn EU bill

The EU Commission claims the UK Treasury knew about the demand for an additional £1.7 billion contribution to the EU budget more than a week ago.

David Cameron insists Britain will not be paying the bill. ITV News' Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship reports:

David Cameron has stressed the Government did not previously know the amount Britain would be asked to pay by the EU.

"You cannot know how much you are liable to pay until the European Commission produce the figures for every country in Europe," the Prime Minister told MPs.

"That information was not available weeks or months ago, it was only discussed at a meeting in Brussels on Friday," he added.

Ed Miliband has told MPs the Treasury was "clearly aware" Britain's budget contribution to the EU would increase.

Citing a letter written on March 11, Miliband highlighted that Nicky Morgan noted changes were going to take place on this issue and stressed the “high priority” the Government were giving to addressing them.

Ed Miliband suggested the Government "has not done its due diligence" in regards to the EU budget change.

The Labour leader told MPs: "The Chancellor said he had 'no warning'. But that is simply not the case."

"The scale of these changes shouldn't have taken anyone in Government by surprise."

David Cameron has said Britain "will not be paying €2 billion (£1.7 billion) to anyone" on December 1.

"It is British taxpayers money and it is not small change", Cameron told MPs.

Prime Minister David Cameron has told MPs the "scale and timing" of the EU's £1.7 billion bill to Britain is "unacceptable".