Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage is having half his MEP’s salary docked following a European Parliament investigation into the alleged misspending of EU funds.

Mr Farage and seven other Ukip MEPs were last February accused of spending money meant to fund their offices on Ukip party matters – leading the Parliament’s financial watchdog to launch an investigation.

The Guardian reports that Mr Farage will now pay back £35,500 (€40,000) through having his salary withheld, after auditors concluded he had indeed misspent the funds.

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The allegations centred around claims that EU-funded parliamentary assistants were actually working for the national party and doing work unrelated to the duties of MEPs.

Under EU rules, full-time assistants to MEPs are not allowed to do paid work for national parties, while part-time assistants must have their second jobs vetted by the European Parliament watchdog to prevent conflicts of interest.

Following the revelation, Mr Farage told the MailOnline website that the EU was “just being vindictive” to him because of his role in the Brexit vote and that he was being treated as “guilty until proven innocent”. He said he rejected the parliamentary authorities' claims.

A spokesperson for the European Parliament authorities said she could not officially confirm the situation regarding Mr Farage’s salary. However, she said that in cases where an MEP “cannot provide any justification or proof” that their funded assistants are doing work directly related to the European mandate of the MEP, “then the administration may recover the money by withholding part of the MEP’s salary”.

An Efdd Group spokesman told The Independent: “There is a vindictive campaign by the European Parliament of selective persecution of Eurosceptic MEPs, parties and groups. This allegation is all part of their politically- motivated assault.”

Last month Mr Farage raised eyebrows when he said he was “skint” at 53 years old, despite being entitled to the £90,000-a-year MEPs’ salary and living in a £4 million townhouse. He will also be entitled to claim an EU pension, understood to be worth £73,000 a year.

Ukip is more reliant on EU funding than other British political parties because of its success in European Parliament elections entitling it to Brussels-funded staff.

Shape Created with Sketch. Brexit Concerns Show all 26 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Brexit Concerns 1/26 Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the “back of the queue” for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned – forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA – because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images 2/26 London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germany’s top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as “gateway to Europe” for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the Bundesbank—Germany’s central bank—told a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were “equivalent” between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still “miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market”, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes 3/26 Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock 4/26 Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEO’s performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterling’s fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex 5/26 Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty 6/26 Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty 7/26 Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire 8/26 SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire 9/26 Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty 10/26 Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty 11/26 The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA 12/26 Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters 13/26 Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty 14/26 Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA 15/26 The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty 16/26 Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty 17/26 A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty 18/26 Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty 19/26 A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty 20/26 Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty 21/26 Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty 22/26 NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty 23/26 The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty 24/26 A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters 25/26 The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty 26/26 The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty 1/26 Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the “back of the queue” for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned – forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA – because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images 2/26 London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germany’s top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as “gateway to Europe” for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the Bundesbank—Germany’s central bank—told a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were “equivalent” between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still “miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market”, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes 3/26 Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock 4/26 Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEO’s performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterling’s fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex 5/26 Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty 6/26 Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty 7/26 Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire 8/26 SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire 9/26 Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty 10/26 Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty 11/26 The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA 12/26 Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters 13/26 Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty 14/26 Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA 15/26 The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty 16/26 Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty 17/26 A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty 18/26 Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty 19/26 A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty 20/26 Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty 21/26 Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty 22/26 NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty 23/26 The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty 24/26 A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters 25/26 The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty 26/26 The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty

The Eurosceptic outfit’s failure to win MEPs in Westminster elections – or hold onto council seats – has deprived it of other potential sources of revenue such as short money, or the top-slicing of councillors’ allowances.

Mr Farage has been an MEP for South East England since 1999. Though no longer leaders of Ukip, he chairs the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy parliamentary group, in which Ukip sits in the European Parliament.</s>Ukip’s former leader and MEP Nigel Farage is being fined half of his monthly salary from the European Parliament after auditors concluded that European funds had been misused:

The former Ukip leader … will lose €40,000 (£35,500) in total, the Guardian has learned, after European parliament auditors concluded he had misspent that amount of EU funds.

Financial controllers have been investigating the role of Christopher Adams, who was hired by Farage to work in the European parliament as his assistant.

Auditors suspended Adams’ contract last year, because they were not convinced he was working for Farage on European parliamentary matters. Although paid as Farage’s assistant, Adams was also the national nominating officer for Ukip, where he was described as one of the party’s “key people”.</s>Nigel Farage has been fined £35,000 after allegedly misspending EU funds.

The ex-UKIP leader was probed by Brussels chiefs over claims his office assistant had not been working on EU matters.

Half of his salary will be docked from this month onwards to recoup the taxpayers' cash the European Parliament is owed.

Mr Farage recently moaned about being “53, separated and skint”.

This is despite being entitled to the £90,000-a-year MEPs’ salary and living in a £4million townhouse.

He is also entitled to claim thousands more in expenses for staff and travel costs, and will also be entitled to claim an EU pension, worth £73,000 a year.

The revelation emerged just 24 hours after he appeared to suggest he was in favour of a second referendum over Brexit.

Last night (FRI) a spokesman for the European Freedom and Direct Democracy group, the European Parliament group which Mr Farage leads, slammed the move.

Speaking to the Mirror from Brussels, the spokesman said: "There is a vindictive campaign by the European Parliament of selective persecution of Eurosceptic MEPs, parties and groups.

"This allegation is all part of their politically motivated assault."

European Parliament investigators suspended the contract of Christopher Adams last year. He was Mr Farage's assistant in Brussels.

It is understood they acted after becoming convinced that he was not working for Mr Farage on European parliamentary matters.

Mr Adams, a former UKIP Parliamentary candidate, was also the national nominating officer for UKIP. 

 Under EU rules, full-time assistants to MEPs are not allowed to do paid work for national parties, while part-time assistants must have their second jobs vetted by the European Parliament watchdog to prevent conflicts of interest.

Following the revelation, Mr Farage claimed that Brussels chiefs were “just being vindictive” to him because of his role in the Brexit vote.

He confirmed that his pay was being withheld but "absolutely rejected" any suggestion of wrongdoing.

He added: "It is guilty until proven innocent. They can do whatever they like. Since Brexit they are just being vindictive."

Mr Farage described the situation as "very difficult" and said the punishment was "arbitrary".

He added: "I have been (in the European parliament) 20 years. I absolutely reject what they say.

"But it is difficult to know what I can do about it."

A European Parliament spokeswoman declined to comment on the case

But she said that in cases where an MEP “cannot provide any justification or proof” that their funded assistants are doing work directly related to the European mandate of the MEP, “then the administration may recover the money by withholding part of the MEP’s salary”.

However, a European Parliament source confirmed: “Since 1 January [2018] the European parliament has withheld 50% in order to recoup the €40,000 due in salary that was paid to Christopher Adams and which cannot be proved by Farage."

Docking Farage’s pre-tax MEP salary of €8,484 a month would mean he would have repaid what the cash by October 2018.

Mr Farage has been an MEP for South East England since 1999.</s>Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage will have his MEP’s salary slashed by 50 percent to £35,000 (US$48,000) after a European Parliament investigation found he had misused EU funds.

Farage, who has recently described himself as “skint,” was being investigated by the European Parliament after allegations were made last February that he, as well as seven other UKIP MEPs, used European funds to finance his party office.

The investigation found that Christopher Adams, besides being Farage’s personal parliamentary assistant, was also carrying out work for the Euroskeptic party as its national nominating officer.

Under current EU rules, full-time assistants to MEPs are not allowed to do paid work for national parties, while part-time assistants must have their second jobs, even voluntary ones, vetted by the European Parliament watchdog to prevent conflicts of interest.

Amid concerns over his “key role” in UKIP, auditors suspended Adams’ contract.

As Farage has reportedly failed to provide proof of Adams’ work as parliamentary assistant, the EU is now docking the Brexiteer’s pre-tax monthly pay of €8,484 (US$10,328) per month in a bid to recoup the lost funds. He will have paid back his “debt” by October 2018.

“Since 1 January [2018] the European parliament has withheld 50 percent in order to recoup the €40,000 (US$48,692) due in salary that was paid to Christopher Adams and which cannot be proved by Farage,” a parliamentary source told the Guardian.

A spokeswoman for the European Parliament said she could not officially confirm details regarding Farage’s salary.

But, if MEPs fail to “provide any justification or proof” that their funded assistants are only carrying out EU-related duties, “then the administration may recover the money by withholding part of the MEP’s salary.”

A spokesman for the Eeuroskeptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group (EFDD) told the Independent: “There is a vindictive campaign by the European Parliament of selective persecution of Euroskeptic MEPs, parties and groups. This allegation is all part of their politically-motivated assault.”

Farage, who spearheaded the Brexit campaign, recently made headlines by claiming he has every right to his EU salary.

Denying claims of hypocrisy given his persistent pro-Brexit rhetoric, he said: “Why should my family suffer?”

“I have just voted to get rid of my job. I was the turkey that voted for Christmas. How is that hypocrisy?” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show.</s>BRUSSELS: Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage has lost nearly half of annual European Parliament salary over allegations that he misspent funds, claims his political group on Friday branded "vindictive".

A parliamentary source confirmed a story in the Guardian newspaper that European Parliament chiefs are to dock 40,000 euros, or half of the former UK Independence Party chief's monthly wage as an MEP for a period of 10 months.

“There is a vindictive campaign by the European Parliament of selective persecution of eurosceptic MEPs, parties and groups," a spokesman for the eurosceptic EFDD political group in the parliament told AFP.

"This allegation is all part of their politically-motivated assault."

The allegations against Farage, who led Britain's vote to leave the EU and is close to US President Donald Trump, involve funds that were meant to pay for parliamentary staff who were instead doing national political work.

"Parliament pays salaries to assistants of lawmakers for work directly related to their European mandate," a European Parliament spokeswoman said.

"In cases where the administration, after a long and detailed process, does not receive the necessary justifications for spending or European work carried out, and the member refuses to repay the money, we launch recovery proceedings."

Despite quitting as leader of UKIP, Farage has kept a high profile and earlier this week met EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels.

He suggested this week that he was "reaching the point of thinking we should have a second referendum" to silence pro-Europeans opposed to the 2016 vote to leave the bloc, but later walked back the comments.</s>Nigel Farage is being docked half his monthly MEP salary after a European parliament investigation alleged he had misspent public funds intended for staffing his office.

The former Ukip leader, who recently bemoaned being “53, separated and skint”, will lose €40,000 (£35,500) in total, the Guardian has learned, after European parliament auditors concluded he had misspent that amount of EU funds.



Financial controllers have been investigating the role of Christopher Adams, who was hired by Farage to work in the European parliament as his assistant.

Auditors suspended Adams’ contract last year, because they were not convinced he was working for Farage on European parliamentary matters. Although paid as Farage’s assistant, Adams was also the national nominating officer for Ukip, where he was described as one of the party’s “key people”.

“Since 1 January [2018] the European parliament has withheld 50% in order to recoup the €40,000 due in salary that was paid to Christopher Adams and which cannot be proved by Farage,” a parliamentary source told the Guardian.



Docking Farage’s pre-tax MEP salary of €8,484 a month would mean he would have repaid what officials call his “debt to the EU” by October 2018.



MEPs earn €101,808 a year before tax and receive thousands more in expenses for staff, travel and office costs. Farage’s pension is understood to be worth £73,000 a year and he will also be entitled to a transitional allowance worth £117,000 when he steps down as an MEP in 2019, as the UK leaves the EU.



Farage is one of eight Ukip MEPs who were investigated in 2017 for misuse of EU funds. One of Ukip’s most senior figures, Roger Helmer, stood down last summer after an investigation that resulted in a demand to repay about £100,000 for alleged misuse of public funds. Helmer, who gave no explanation of his decision to stand down halfway through the parliamentary term, has always denied wrongdoing. Two other investigations into Ukip MEPs were closed without any action.



A spokesman for Farage has been contacted for comment.

Farage has the right to appeal to the staff tribunal at the European court of justice.

Under EU rules, full-time MEP assistants are not allowed to do paid work for a national political party. Part-time assistants need to have second jobs, paid and voluntary, vetted by European parliament authorities to prevent a conflict of interest.



Farage, who has been an MEP for 18 years, has one of the worst attendance records at the parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg. He is ranked 748 out of 751 MEPs and has taken part in only 37% of votes in the current parliamentary session, according to VoteWatch Europe.



The European parliament has played an unsung role in Ukip’s success, giving the party funding and a platform it struggled to get in British elections. European parliamentary authorities have in recent years paid closer attention to how MEPs spend EU funds, after years of assuming parties would do the right thing.

In 2016 a Ukip-dominated group was denied €501,000 in EU funds after it emerged European money had been funnelled into the attempts to win Farage a seat in the 2015 UK general election.

Farage told the journalist Michael Crick last September that he had not been paid his MEP salary for several months because of the dispute over Ukip spending, but the parliament source said that was not true.

Marine Le Pen is under formal investigation by French magistrates, after she refused to repay nearly €300,000 of EU funds, following a European parliament investigation into EU funds spent by the far-right Front National leader.</s>There are some who would suggest that his contribution and that of his party to the European Parliament does not justify the full £101,808 a year salary, but Nigel Farage and his fellow UKIP-refuseniks have been elected and they are accountable to their electorate not the likes of me and other pro-Europeans.However, as the Guardian reports , Farage has finally got his comeuppance after a European parliament investigation alleged he had misspent public funds intended for staffing his office. As a result, he has been docked half his monthly salary.The paper says that the former UKIP leader, who recently bemoaned being “53, separated and skint”, will lose €40,000 (£35,500) in total after European parliament auditors concluded he had misspent that amount of EU funds:UKIP have used the European Parliament as a means of funding their political activities for too long. This sanction is welcome.</s>Nigel Farage has been fined £35,000 by the EU for allegedly mis-spending money.

Half of his MEP’s salary is being docked each month over claims his office assistant broke rules by not working on EU matters.

Former Ukip leader Farage, an MEP since 1999, insisted last night that Brussels chiefs were acting out of revenge because of his role in fighting for Brexit.

Denying any wrongdoing, he said: “It is guilty until proven innocent. They can do whatever they like. Since Brexit, they are being vindictive.”

Farage described the situation as “very difficult”, adding: “I absolutely reject what they say. But it is difficult to know what I can do about it.”

European Parliament investigators decided last year to suspend the contract of Farage’s then Brussels assistant Christopher Adams. He was also the national nominating officer for Ukip.

A European Parliament source said the EU began this month to recoup £35,000 in salary paid to Adams.

It is alleged Farage – who on Thursday appeared to suggest he was in favour of a second referendum over Brexit – has not proven his colleague was doing work directly related to the elected role of an MEP.

Docking Farage’s pre-tax salary means he would repay the cash by October.

Despite being entitled to the £90,000 a year MEP salary and living in a £4million house, Farage recently moaned about being “skint”.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front in France, is being probed by French magistrates after she refused to repay £260,000 of EU funds.</s>Nigel Farage raged at 'vindictive' Eurocrats after it emerged he is being docked £35,000 from his salary in a row over staffing costs.

The former UKIP leader, who recently complained that he was '53, separated and skint', is being punished after EU parliament watchdogs concluded he had misused funds.

He has been accused of using official budgets to pay assistant Christopher Adams, even though he was not working on parliamentary business.

A EU parliament source told the Guardian: 'Since 1 January [2018] the European parliament has withheld 50 per cent in order to recoup the €40,000 due in salary that was paid to Christopher Adams and which cannot be proved by Farage.'

Mr Farage confirmed to MailOnline that his pay was being witheld but insisted he 'absolutely rejected' any suggestion of wrongdoing.

'It is guilty until proven innocent,' he said.

'They can do whatever they like. Since Brexit they are just being vindictive.'

Mr Farage said the situation was 'very difficult' and the punishment was 'arbitrary'.

'I have been (in the European parliament) 20 years. I absolutely reject what they say.

'But it is difficult to know what I can do about it.'

Docking Farage's pre-tax MEP salary of €8,484 a month would mean he would have repaid his 'debt to the EU' by October 2018.

MEPs earn €101,808 a year before tax and receive thousands more in expenses for staff, travel and office costs.

Mr Farage has previously been accused of 'shameless hypocrisy' for agreeing to take a £73,000 tax-payer funded EU pension.

As an MEP, the former Ukip leader will be entitled to an annual pension of £73,000 when he reaches the age of 63. He is currently 53.

The pension could be part-funded by Britain's estimated £50 billion 'divorce bill' - if there is a Brexit deal, reports the Sunday Times.

Asked on BBC1's The Andrew Marr Show if he would accept the money, Mr Farage replied: 'Of course I would take it. I have said that right from day one. Why should my family and others suffer even more.'

Mr Farage said he did not expect the money would ever be paid.

'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 said.</s>The Nigel Farage Show: Watch It Here

Nigel Farage takes your calls live and you can watch the show here from 7pm.

The outspoken LBC presenter is once again dominating the headlines.

It’s after he suggested “maybe” it was time for a second referendum to silence "whingeing, whining, moaning" Remainers.

Give your views on his remarks by calling Nigel on 0345 60 60 973.

You can also text 84850, tweet @LBC, or email here.

The Nigel Farage Show on LBC, Monday to Thursday, 7-8pm and Sunday from 10am.
After European Parliament auditors conclude that he used a parliamentary assistant for UKIP party matters instead of for work related to the duties of a Member of the European Parliament, Nigel Farage will now pay back £35,500 (€40,000) through having half of his salary withheld.