Indian warship aid anger

Euro-MP Paul Nuttall

British aid to India has come under fire from local MEP Paul Nuttall following the revelation that the country is spending £1billion on three warships.

"We are still handing over £280 million a year even though India has admitted it doesn't need our help, and while our own Royal Navy is suffering from severe budget cuts they are splashing out on these top notch vessels.

"It is nonsense that we are parting with cash that in reality we don't have to a country that now has a far superior navy to ours," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP deputy party leader.

"They have new frigates and aircraft carriers with aircraft and what do we have? We have been without an aircraft carrier strike force since Sea Harriers were axed in 2010 and ironically our aircraft carrier HMS Hermes was sold to India in 1986 and remains in service as the INS Viraat.

"And this news comes hot on the heels of discovering that we are already effectively subsidising India's space mission to Mars," said Mr Nuttall.