Ukip has confirmed this morning that Nigel Farage’s wife is still in receipt of public money — despite an on air denial from her husband. The party could not have paid for better PR on Channel 4 last night, with Farage meeting Gogglebox poshos Steph and Dom for a special one off programme.
One exchange caught Steerpike’s eye, regarding employment of his wife. Nige claimed Kirsten was no longer ‘paid by the public sector’. In fact, the Ukip leader could not have been clearer:
‘Dom: But she is also your wife and she’s working for you
Farage: She is no longer paid by the public sector.
Dom: Ok so now you have found someone to do that job?
Farage: No she is still doing it.
Dom: Oh she’s just not paid?
Farage: Not paid by the European Parliament no. No, absolutely not.
Steph: Who pays her then?
Farage: The Party.’
Which is a bit odd given as of the 16 December the European Parliament website still says that Kirsten Farage is employed as a local assistant to the Ukip MEP Ray Finch.
Ukip have confirmed to Mr S that Mrs Farage is paid ‘around £200 per week’ from public funds to help out in the South East office, but say also claim that Nigel was not being misleading on the show.
When Gogglebox was filmed in July, Ukip sources said that Kirsten Farage was indeed being paid for by the party and that Nigel did not know of her subsequent agreement with MEP Ray Finch.
So Mrs Farage is still ‘paid by the public sector’ regardless of whether you are generous enough to believe their version of events.
Comments