Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage has been labelled a “vile hypocrite” after stating he would keep his £73,000 EU pension. His decision was met with widespread public derision.

Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show on Sunday, Farage said he would not give up his British taxpayer-funded pension, despite spearheading the movement for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

Asked if he would accept the EU money, the 53-year-old Brexiteer said: “Of course I would take it. I have said that right from day one. Why should my family and others suffer even more?”

He denied accusations of hypocrisy saying: “I have just voted to get rid of my job. I was the turkey that voted for Christmas. How is that hypocrisy?”

People took to Twitter to vent their frustration over Farage’s “shameless comments”.

Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy was among those criticizing Farage and calling his integrity into question.

On #Marr@Nigel_Farage defends Trump promoting Britain First? Nothing but a pound shop Enoch Powell. We fought the National Front in the ‘80’s and we’ll do it again. Apparently also hates the EU so much he’ll still draw his 70 grand + a year pension.. — David Lammy (@DavidLammy) December 3, 2017

Tom Brake, Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington, 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 and wants his MEPs pension. — Tom Brake (@thomasbrake) December 3, 2017

Others accused Farage of inflicting “massive damage” to the UK by pushing for Brexit, abandoning the scene while negotiations unravel and yet still having the cheek to claim his EU pension.

Have to credit @Nigel_Farage for being possilby the biggest hypocrite of the decade. Helping inflicting massive damage to the UKs economy, pissing off once damage is done, and then taking his EU pension... despite less than 40% attendance. What a vile human being. — Pixels In Progress (@PIProgress) December 3, 2017

Other users pointed out that it is British taxpayers who will have to foot the bill:

@Nigel_Farage enjoy your EU 73K tax funded pension.. oh why should your family suffer... Hypocrite... the poor in the uk suffer everyday.. your either in or out MATE.. not out with BENEFITS — Hannah Ashley Fraser (@HannahAshFraser) December 3, 2017

While another questioned the grounds on which Farage is claiming his pension:





Also interesting that Farage's attendance & activity record as a MEPs is rather poor: 0 reports, 0 opinions, only 3 questions, rarely voted. Not serving constituents much, apart from giving speeches & using @Europarl_EN as campaigning platform https://t.co/QfjCUPwDyi — Bojan Pancevski (@bopanc) December 3, 2017

Another put up a poll asking people if they were happy Farage would still be left with tens of thousands more once the UK crashes out of the EU. You can imagine the result:

Are you happy with some of the tax you pay going to @Nigel_Farage pension? — Dr Ryan Waters (@RyanWatersUKIP) December 3, 2017

As the pension would likely be funded by the £50 billion divorce bill the UK intends to pay the bloc once it withdraws, people have said it is no wonder Farage has remained relatively quiet on the subject.

Now we know why he has been so quiet about the "Divorce Bill" 😡 '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.' https://t.co/TOUmocu9Jvpic.twitter.com/8z1sYv1ETm — ✨#HelloMyNameIsJoan✨ (@RoaringNurse) December 4, 2017

But former MEP for the East Midlands, Roger Helmer, hastened to defend Farage.

He tweeted: “Why on earth should Nigel Farage give up his pension? It was accrued legitimately at a time when the UK was an EU member state in good standing, and a major net contributor. It is the duty of the EU to pay it.”

He was backed by pro-Brexit Peter Thompson, who believes pushing for Farage to give up his pension is “insane”.