Argentina aid anger

MEP Paul Nuttall

MEP Paul Nuttall has reacted angrily to news that Britain is sending more than £2 million a year in aid to Argentina.

"What madness is this? Argentina, which is a member of the G20 group of leading economies, hardly needs charity from Britain.

"And meanwhile they are still verbally at war with us over the Falklands. Only last month David Cameron criticised Argentina for 'shameful' attempts to deter oil exploration in Falklands waters with threats of heavy jail sentences and fines," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP Deputy Leader.

"It's bad enough that we give millions to countries which do not need our aid, including India and China, without pouring funds into a country which is openly hostile to us over the Falklands.

"A referendum held last year showed that 99.8% of the islanders wish to remain British yet still Argentina is sabre rattling over these islands to which they have no historic or moral claims.

"People may be shocked to learn that we also contribute £7million to a £50million EU aid programme to Argentina, which is totally wrong, and quite frankly I find it deplorable that on top of that we are giving them £2 million a year directly from the UK," said Mr Nuttall, North West Euro-MP.