
Nigel Farage took aim at Labour MPs, accusing them of panicking as he demanded answers from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the decision to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners while the UK hands over £18 billion to a foreign country.
The Reform UK leader faced loud interruptions from Labour MPs as he spoke, but he didn’t back down. Instead, he responded with a smirk: “They really are panicking.”
He pointed out the real impact of the government’s decision, sharing a story about one of his constituents, a 99-year-old war veteran who flew combat missions as a Lancaster bomber pilot. This veteran, along with 25,000 other people in Clacton, is now losing his winter fuel allowance, even though he served his country. At the same time, the UK is giving away a crucial military base and paying billions to Mauritius.
Farage directly challenged the Prime Minister, asking: “What do I say to my constituents, including a 99-year-old veteran, who are struggling to afford heating while we hand over £18 billion and give away a military base?”
Sir Keir did not defend the winter fuel cuts or explain why the government made this decision. Instead, he simply told Farage to “tell them to vote Labour.” This response did nothing to address the concerns of struggling pensioners, leaving many feeling ignored.
The Chagos Islands deal has also sparked controversy. Despite denying claims that the government has doubled its original £9 billion offer to Mauritius, Starmer is still pushing ahead with plans to hand over the islands. The UK and the US currently use the strategically important Diego Garcia military base, and the US has previously raised concerns about transferring control of the islands.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam claimed that Starmer assured him he is committed to the agreement and expects a “speedy resolution” within weeks. The UK originally planned to lease back the military base for £9 billion, but Ramgoolam suggested this amount has effectively doubled due to an inflation-linked increase added by the Labour government.
The UK denies this claim but has refused to reveal the true cost of the deal. This lack of transparency has led to growing frustration among MPs and the public.
Sir Keir tried to justify the agreement by saying that without legal certainty, the UK’s military base cannot operate properly. He warned that failing to settle the issue could be “bad for national security” and could benefit Britain’s adversaries.
However, critics argue that giving away the Chagos Islands weakens the UK’s position and could have serious long-term consequences. The islands are located in a key military region, and some believe that China could take advantage of the UK’s withdrawal.
Meanwhile, pensioners are left struggling with rising energy costs, and many feel betrayed by the government’s decision to cut their winter fuel payments while committing billions to a foreign country.
The controversy continues, but one thing is clear: Labour’s handling of both the winter fuel payments and the Chagos Islands deal is raising serious questions about priorities, transparency, and national security.