Labour Faces Fury as Claim of £10.2 Billion in Benefits for Foreign Nationals Sparks Row

By Matt • Breaking Brexit News • 16 May 2026

A staggering claim that £10.2 billion in Universal Credit was “gifted to foreign nationals” in 2024 has ignited a fierce debate, with Labour ministers dismissing the figure as a “significant overestimation” despite official data on claimant demographics.

“Staggering” £10.2 Billion Claim

The row erupted when Rupert Lowe, leader of Restore Britain, told the House of Commons on April 27 that a “staggering” £10.1 billion of the £61.2 billion spent on Universal Credit in 2024 was “gifted to foreign nationals,” as reported by the Daily Express. This figure has sparked outrage among those who believe British taxpayers’ money should prioritise citizens.

Mr Lowe went further, suggesting that the solution was “straightforward”: ban all foreign nationals from claiming benefits, remove migrants incapable of financial self-support, and return that money to “tax-paying British men and women who are actually keeping our economy running.” This direct challenge highlights the deep frustration many feel about the current system.

Labour Dismisses Figure Amidst Data

Andrew Western, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, “fundamentally disagreed” with Mr Lowe’s perspective, according to the Daily Express. Western claimed the £10.1 billion figure was “a complete conflation and a significant overestimation,” arguing that many individual claimants in households with foreign nationals could be British or Irish citizens.

However, data released in 2025 indicated that 83.6 per cent of Universal Credit claimants as of June that year were British and Irish nationals or those with unrestricted immigration status. The Daily Express reported that people with EU Settlement Scheme settled status accounted for 9.7 per cent (770,379 claimants), while 2.7 per cent (211,090) had indefinite leave to remain in Britain. Refugees made up 1.5 per cent (118,749), and individuals on humanitarian routes, including Ukrainians and Afghans, were 0.7 per cent (54,156).

• Rupert Lowe claimed £10.1 billion of Universal Credit in 2024 was “gifted to foreign nationals.”
• This figure represents a significant portion of the total £61.2 billion spent on Universal Credit.
• Mr Lowe called for a ban on foreign nationals claiming benefits and the removal of those unable to support themselves.
• Labour’s Andrew Western dismissed the claim as a “significant overestimation” and “conflation.”
• Official data shows 83.6 per cent of claimants are British/Irish or have unrestricted status.
• Around 14.6 per cent of claimants hold settled status, indefinite leave, refugee status, or humanitarian route status.

What This Means for Britain

This debate cuts to the heart of how your tax money is being spent and who benefits from Britain’s welfare system.

The claims and counter-claims highlight a significant lack of clarity and transparency over the true cost of benefits for non-citizens, leaving ordinary British taxpayers in the dark.

If Mr Lowe’s figure is accurate, it represents a substantial sum that many believe could be better spent on struggling British families, the NHS, or reducing the national debt.

The Labour government’s dismissal of the figure as an “overestimation” without providing a clear alternative leaves questions unanswered about the scale of benefit payments to foreign nationals.

This ongoing row fuels the public’s frustration with a system many feel is rigged against hard-working Britons, who are left to pick up the bill while politicians argue over the numbers.

The call to enforce stricter rules on benefit eligibility for non-citizens resonates with many who believe in taking back control of Britain’s borders and its public finances.

Share if you believe British taxpayers deserve clear answers on how their money is spent.

This article is a factual summary of reporting by The Daily Express. Full original story available on their website. All quotes directly attributed.