Nigel Farage branded 'clown' as he suggests scrapping Barnett formula
Asked during a rare appearance in Scotland on Monday about whether he would get rid of the Barnett formula, which is used to fund Holyrood, Farage said the mechanism was 'out of date'.
He added: 'What I'd like to see is a Scottish Government that's able to raise a bit more of its own revenue and a Scottish economy that's actually got genuine growth and I don't believe that can happen without this sector [oil and gas] booming.
'I think, you know, the Barnett formula goes back to the 1970s. Is there an argument it should be looked at again? Of course there is.'
READ MORE: Nigel Farage visit to Scotland met by anti-racism protesters
Farage said that 'welfare dependency' would not be reduced by the UK Government's allocation to the Scottish Parliament this year.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'Today the chief clown Nigel Farage finally found his way to Scotland and showed just how totally out of touch with our country he is.
'Nigel Farage turned up, admitted he can't win the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election and pledged to cut funding for Scotland's NHS and public services.
'Nigel Farage is a dangerous clown and the people of Scotland see right through him.'
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Glasgow Times
13 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
DWP Winter fuel payments to return for more pensioners 2025
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told reporters that 'more people will get winter fuel payment this winter', adding that further details will be announced 'as soon as we possibly can'. She said: 'People should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get winter fuel payment this winter.' The means-testing of pensioners' winter fuel payments is an issue which has been blamed for contributing to Labour's poor performance in last month's local elections and the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. When will the details be announced? Ms Reeves said that she would set out how to pay for any increase in the threshold for the winter fuel allowance at the next budget. Asked whether she would tell the public if she planned to fund her commitments by raising taxes or cutting spending on other departments, the Chancellor said: 'As we have been clear, on winter fuel we will set out how we will fund that at the next fiscal event. 'We will set out how everything will be paid for at the budget in the autumn but it's important that everything that we do is funded, because that's how people know that we can afford it.' Will all pensioners receive winter fuel payments? (Image: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire) In short, no. Pensions minister Torsten Bell told MPs that, while more pensioners will be eligible, there is no prospect of returning to universal winter fuel payments. Speaking to the Work and Pensions Committee, Mr Bell said: 'Directly on your question of is there any prospect of a universal winter fuel payment, the answer is no, the principle I think most people, 95% of people, agree, that it's not a good idea that we have a system paying a few hundreds of pounds to millionaires, and so we're not going to be continuing with that. 'But we will be looking at making more pensioners eligible.' Very pleased to just hear the Prime Minister has just said he wants more state pensioners to get Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) and they will work out what they're doing in time for the budget. As I've said since day one, there are two main problems with the way the means testing… — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) May 21, 2025 Mr Bell said he did not have 'lots to add' to what Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had said recently about the allowance. He told the MPs: 'Of course the announcement, as and when it's made, will be made to the House.' Sir Keir recently signalled a partial U-turn over the Government's decision to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners. The Prime Minister said 'as the economy improves', he wanted to look at widening eligibility for the payments, which are worth up to £300. 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Glasgow Times
13 minutes ago
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Stradivarius to open first ever Glasgow store in Silverburn
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Glasgow Times
13 minutes ago
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Billy McAllister who exposed Lyons family slams police
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