Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was blasted in Prime Minister’s Questions for raking in cash from extra jobs – while criticising the minimum wage for youngsters
PMQs: Adam Thompson asks about minimum wage and Farage’s second jobs
Nigel Farage was blasted in Prime Minister’s Questions for raking in cash from ‘second jobs’ – while criticising the minimum wage for youngsters.
The Reform UK leader – who has earned more than £1million from second jobs since the general election – earlier this week cast doubt on the minimum wage for younger workers – after suggesting it is too high. His income from his second jobs is on top of his £93,904 MP’s salary.
Deputy PM David Lammy, who stood in for Keir Starmer at PMQs, ridiculed Mr Farage for making “quite a lot” out of being an ambassador for Direct Bullion – a precious metals and gold dealer. Mr Farage, sitting on the opposition benches, put his thumb up.
Adam Thompson, Labour MP for Erewash, raised the issue at PMQs. He asked Mr Lammy: “Since this government has massively boosted the national minimum wage for young people, my constituents in Erewash earn far more than the £3.40 an hour I got paid in my first job just 17 years ago.
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“What is the Deputy Prime Minister’s response then, to those including the Conservatives and Reform who claim that £10 an hour is too high a wage for young workers and does he happen to know whether any of the Reform leader’s dozen extra jobs pay him less than £10 an hour?”
Mr Lammy said: “Well, I was looking at the Honourable Member for Clacton’s members’ interests, and he’s making quite a lot out of gold bullion.
“You’ve got to ask: Why does he want to cut the minimum wage for people who are not making even 1% of what he is.
“The Labour Party’s on the side of young people, boosting their wages and delivering the youth guarantee to help everyone realise their potential. And I hope young people recognise what the two other parties want on their record.”
Over the last year, Mr Farage has raked in cash for speaking engagements, social media work, cameo video recordings, TV presenting for GB News, writing articles and being an ambassador to Direct Bullion.
On Monday, Mr Farage told a press conference: “There’s an argument the minimum wage is too high for younger workers, particularly given we’ve lowered the level at which NIC (National Insurance Contribution) is paid to £5,000 a year. So do one or the other.”
Last year, at Tory conference, Kemi Badenoch suggested minimum wage is harming businesses – as well as maternity pay. Speaking at a Q&A event, the now Tory leader suggested the minimum wage and maternity pay “are overburdening businesses”.
The current minimum wage is £7.55 for those under 18, £10 for those aged 18 to 20, and £12.21 for those aged 21 and over.
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