Watch the moment Reform UK MP Lee Anderson becomes embroiled in a chaotic GB News row with political commentator Matthew Stadlen.
The pair warred over new data revealing almost 1.3 million foreign nationals are claiming Universal Credit.
Anderson said “we’ve lost the plot” after being told “for decades” that migration has a positive impact on Britain’s economy.
“Nobody coming from a different country should be claiming Universal Credit”, he said.
A huge row erupted on the People’s Channel
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GB NEWS
“There’s a massive carrot to come to this country, financial reward. They’re coming from poor countries and tapping into the Universal Credit and end up costing our state a fortune. It needs to stop.”
Stadlen said a distinctive line needs to be drawn between irregular and regular migrants, adding: “The Government’s policy is to stop the boats. That is the situation as things stand.
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“On the question of people coming here legally to make a contribution, at some point, if they are legally and reasonably here and they fall on bad times, we don’t want them ending up on the street, do we?”
Anderson said once migrants are unable to make a positive contribution to Britain and become a burden to the state, they should “go home”.
The pair clashed over shocking new benefits figures
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GB NEWS
Stadlen hit back: “Let’s say you’ve been here 20 years paying into the system and then you fall on hard times, like anyone, is it suddenly ‘get out, go home?’.”
The Reform UK MP became exasperated at Stadlen’s pushbacks and ranted about the issues thrown up by migrants relying on the state.
“They come, maybe do a bit of work and end up on Universal Credit, working 16-hours a week milking the system”, he said.
“This is an insult to every hardworking British man and woman who gets up in the morning to put a shift in. It’s their money they’re sponging.”
Stadlen asked whether Anderson was referring to people who have been invited to come to Britain or those who have arrived via small boat.
“Well, both”, said Anderson, to which Stadlen hit back: “If you’re an asylum seeker you don’t have access to benefits.”
Anderson said those arriving on a small boat are still coming at a hefty cost to the taxpayer.
Stadlen then said Reform could be forming a Government at the next election in what he said would be a “horrendous” scenario.
He asked what Lee Anderson would do should he be tasked with stopping the small boats.
“Stop them. Turn them back the same day. We’ve had this same argument many times with left-wing agitators like yourself”, he said.
“It’s time for this country to grow a backbone and do what they did in Australia. Turn these boats back the same day.
“If that means having a stand-off with France, so be it. I don’t want rapists and murderers and terrorists coming into this country and being put in four-star hotels.”
Stadlen argued that Anderson was “panicked” as he “suddenly started talking about rapists and murderers” during the explosive clash.