Nigel Farage has sparked outrage by refusing to give up his taxpayer-funded EU pension after Brexit, asking: “Why should my family suffer?”

It is understood the 53-year-old former Ukip leader will be entitled to an annual pension of £73,000 when he reaches the age of 63.

The pension could be part-funded by Britain’s estimated £50bn Brexit “divorce bill”, which Farage has criticised as too large, leading to accusations that the MEP for South East England was a “shameless hypocrite”.

Farage defended the arrangement when challenged on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show. Asked if he would accept the EU pension money, he replied: “Of course I would take it. I have said that right from day one. Why should my family and others suffer even more?”

However, Farage said he did not expect the money would ever be paid. He told the programme: “Given the arbitrary way the European Union behaves in terms of money, I would be very surprised if I get any of it. I don’t think it will even occur.”

He denied his position was hypocritical, adding: “I have just voted to get rid of my job. I was the turkey that voted for Christmas. How is that hypocrisy?”

The 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.”

But former MEP for the East Midlands, Roger Helmer, was quick 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.”