Nigel Farage to get Brexit pay-off as part of £6m ‘golden goodbye’ for British MEPs
2 min read
Nigel Farage and other Brexiteer MEPs are due their share of a £6m payoff as Britain leaves the EU, it has been reported.
According to Sky News, British MEPs will receive a ‘golden goodbye’ that will be added to the UK’s Brexit divorce bill.
A senior source told the news outlet that Britain's 73 MEPs will each get "transition payments", when they stand down or lose their seats, the value of which will depend on their time in the role.
The source was also adamant that Brussels would not foot the bill, but that it would be paid for by the UK.
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who remains a group leader in the European Parliament, will receive around £150,000.
Daniel Hannan, the Conservative MEP credited with playing a pivotal role in the Leave campaign’s success, will receive the same sum.
Other British MEPs, including prominent Remain supporters, will be in line to receive the maximum amount of over £176,000.
The scheme, which is essentially a redundancy package, awards one month's salary for each year served as an MEP, up to a maximum of 24 months.
Asked if he would accept the money, Mr Farage said: "After 18 years hard service I'd probably take it," but added: "But they won't give it to me."
"Given the nasty vindictive nature of these institutions I'd be very surprised if I get what's due."
Richard Corbett, a long-standing Labour MEP who will also receive the money, said: "He's entitled to it. There's no question of the EU saying some can have it and some can't. It's a typical Farage invention, if I might say so."
PoliticsHome Newsletters
PoliticsHome provides the most comprehensive coverage of UK politics anywhere on the web, offering high quality original reporting and analysis: Subscribe
