'Unacceptable': Philip Davies urged Gordon Brown to guarantee the taxpayer wouldn't foot the bill
The UK taxpayer could still end up forking out for the bailout of debt-stricken Greece despite Treasury assurances, politicians warned last night.
The fears come as eurozone finance ministers are today expected to discuss a package of aid worth tens of billions of euros for the ailing country.
Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, last night said it would be 'unacceptable' for UK taxpayers to be asked to pay any money to help Athens.
And he urged Gordon Brown to give a cast-iron guarantee that it would not happen.
He said: 'We always fear the worst with this Government.
'Perhaps the Prime Minister should give a categoric assurance that not one penny piece of UK taxpayers' money will go towards bailing out Greece.
'We've got enough financial problems of our own without having to bail out another irresponsible country.'
Despite claims to the contrary from the Treasury, UKIP MEP Nigel Farage claimed Britain will not be spared from the burden of a Greek bail-out, saying 'it is certain that Britain will bear the brunt'.
He added: 'Our public deficit is as bad as Greece's yet we will still be bailing them out and it will cripple us.
'The fact we are not in the eurozone makes no odds. We will not be sheltered from it.'
The rescue will not only help Greece pay down its spiralling debts, but is also expected to shore up confidence in the euro, which has been hammered in recent weeks as investors feared it could be brought down by the crisis.
Details of the financial lifeline were still being worked out over the weekend, but it is thought the 16 countries that make up the eurozone will all be asked to contribute loans or loan guarantees.
Reports suggested eurozone finance chiefs may be ready to agree a ?22.6billion handout, led by Germany. Greece's borrowing needs for this year total ?48billion.
A Treasury spokesman insisted any rescue package for Greece would not involve a contribution from Britain, adding: 'This is a eurozone thing, so it's nothing to do with us or UK taxpayers.'
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