Nigel Farage and Chancellor Rachel Reeves engaged in a heated exchange after today's Spring Statement debate in Parliament.
The Reform UK leader challenged Reeves on the government's economic performance, specifically questioning whether GDP per capita was a more relevant measure than overall GDP growth.
The clash came as Reeves delivered her Spring Statement, which revealed the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) had halved UK growth forecasts for 2025 from two per cent to one per cent.
Nigel's intervention focused on what he described as the real-world impact of economic figures on his constituents in Clacton.
Nigel Farage told Reeves that mass immigration has made Britons poorer
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Reeves responded with a sharp rebuke that questioned Farage's presence in his constituency.
Nigel directly questioned the Chancellor on whether GDP per capita was more relevant than overall GDP growth figures.
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"Would the Chancellor agree that measuring growth to relative growth by GDP is not the most relevant number to our constituents?", he asked during the debate.
The Reform UK leader pointed to concerns about immigration's impact on economic metrics.
"We're living in an age of mass immigration and a rising population. It is GDP per capita surely which matters to our constituents and that has fallen consistently over the last two years and it is falling still," Nigel stated.
He concluded his challenge with a pointed question: "Should we tell people they are getting poorer?"
The Reform leader hit out at Reeves
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The Chancellor fired back with data from the Office for Budget Responsibility to counter Nigel's claims.
"The OBR forecast GDP per capita will increase by 5.6 per cent during the course of this Parliament having fallen under the previous government," Reeves responded.
She then delivered a pointed jab at the Reform UK leader's commitment to his constituency.
"If he ever gets to Clacton, he can tell his constituents that," Reeves said.
Rachel Reeves announces changes to the welfare systemGB NEWS The remark appeared to question how frequently Farage visits the Essex coastal town he represents.
The exchange highlighted growing tensions between the government and Reform UK over economic policy and immigration.
The Spring Statement revealed significant economic challenges, with Reeves confirming the OBR had halved UK growth forecasts for 2025.
The Chancellor outlined plans to turn a predicted £4.1bn hole in public finances into a £9.9bn surplus by 2029-30.
"I am not satisfied with these numbers. That is why we on this side of the house are serious about taking the action needed to grow our economy," Reeves told MPs.
She announced welfare cuts, including reducing the universal credit health element by 50 per cent for new claimants.
The Chancellor also pledged an additional £2.2bn for defence next year and measures to tackle tax evasion, which she said would raise an extra £1bn.
