Nigel Farage to keep £73,000 EU pension billed to UK taxpayers

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage has been accused of 'appalling hypocrisy' for refusing to give up a £73,000 per year EU pension that is set to be paid for from the UK's Brexit bill.
Edinburgh UK Apr 07 2016; UKIP Leader Nigel Farage with UKIP Scotland leader David Coburn in Edinburgh for the Scottish Parliament elections campaign. 
credit steven scott taylor / J P LicenseEdinburgh UK Apr 07 2016; UKIP Leader Nigel Farage with UKIP Scotland leader David Coburn in Edinburgh for the Scottish Parliament elections campaign. 
credit steven scott taylor / J P License
Edinburgh UK Apr 07 2016; UKIP Leader Nigel Farage with UKIP Scotland leader David Coburn in Edinburgh for the Scottish Parliament elections campaign. credit steven scott taylor / J P License

Mr Farage said he would not give up his pension entitlement, telling the Andrew Marr Show:“Why should my family and others suffer even more?” Up to €10 billion of the UK’s anticipated £50bn divorce bill is set to pay for the pensions of EU officials and MEPs, with Mr Farage in line for a £73,000 income after Brexit.

EU parliamentarians are due 3.5 per cent of their salary for each full year as an MEP, up to 70 per cent of total earnings, funded by European taxpayers. Mr Farage will have served 20 years by the time the UK leaves the EU in 2019, netting around £7,500 a month.

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Edinburgh UK Apr 07 2016; UKIP Leader Nigel Farage with UKIP Scotland leader David Coburn in Edinburgh for the Scottish Parliament elections campaign. 
credit steven scott taylor / J P LicenseEdinburgh UK Apr 07 2016; UKIP Leader Nigel Farage with UKIP Scotland leader David Coburn in Edinburgh for the Scottish Parliament elections campaign. 
credit steven scott taylor / J P License
Edinburgh UK Apr 07 2016; UKIP Leader Nigel Farage with UKIP Scotland leader David Coburn in Edinburgh for the Scottish Parliament elections campaign. credit steven scott taylor / J P License
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The EU’s fiercest critic is also reported to be enrolled in a second pension scheme originally set up to top up pensions of MEPs from poorer member states, which will top up Mr Farage’s pension by £42,000.

He will be eligible to claim the pension in ten years, when he reaches 63.

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: “Nigel Farage is a shameless hypocrite. He rails against the so-called EU gravy train, but is happy to cash in when it suits him.”

Mr Farage said: “It is not hypocrisy. I’ve just voted to get rid of my job.”

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