Britain will not pay "anything like" the £1.7 billion which is being demanded by the European Commission in additional contributions to the EU budget, Prime Minister David Cameron has told MPs.
But the Prime Minister was accused of being "asleep at the wheel" by Labour leader Ed Miliband, who said Mr Cameron should have been aware for at least two years that changes to Britain's contribution to the EU budget were in the offing.
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.
Today's trip to Berlin should be a moment to savour for the Chancellor, but it is the £1.7 billion EU bill that is on everyone's minds.
George Osborne has told ITV News it is "not acceptable" for the EU to spring a £1.7 billion bill on Britain without any warning.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage has told ITV's The Agenda Britain should tell the European Union to "get stuffed" over the £1.7 billion bill.