A heated exchange erupted on GB News when presenter Eamonn Holmes clashed with political commentator Matthew Stadlen over foreign nationals claiming Universal Credit.
Eamonn declared that "over a £1bn a month is going to foreigners who haven't paid into society here, I just don't understand this country."
Stadlen strongly disputed this claim, stating: "Eamonn, you just said these 1.2 million people have not paid a penny towards the British state, that is complete nonsense. Plenty of these people will have paid money into the British state."
When Eamonn challenged him to explain how, Stadlen responded: "700,000 of these people are EU citizens, many of whom will have been paying tax. Universal Credit is what you get when you're on a low income."
GB NEWS / GETTY
|Eamonn Holmes was less than impressed with Stadlen's line of argument
The tension escalated when Stadlen asked how Eamonn would deal with the issue, to which he angrily asserted: "I don't know. You're the expert. I'm telling you that 16 per cent of people on Universal Credit in Great Britain are foreign nationals. You interpret it how you want, you will obviously contradict me and say otherwise."
GB News star Nana Akua joined the debate, arguing that foreign nationals should support themselves rather than claim benefits.
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"Often when you visit another country, they make sure that you, as a foreign national, can support yourself and you are not a burden," she said.
Stadlen defended the claimants, insisting that "contrary to what Eamonn has said, a lot of the 1.2 million people will be contributing." He added: "100,000 of these people are refugees. Do you want them to live in poverty?"
GB NEWS
|The frosty row broke out on GB News Breakfast
The debate comes as new government data reveals that 1.2 million foreign nationals were claiming Universal Credit as of June 2025, representing 15.6 per cent of all claimants.
The figures, published for the first time following pressure from opposition MPs, show that 604,914 foreign nationals claiming UC were not in employment.
Among the foreign national claimants, 770,379 were EU citizens with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, whilst 211,090 had indefinite leave to remain. Refugees accounted for 118,749 claimants, with a further 54,156 arriving through humanitarian routes including Ukrainian and Afghan resettlement schemes.
The total number of UC claimants has risen from 6.8 million to 7.9 million over the past year, with the vast majority - 83.6 per cent - being British or Irish nationals.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the figures "staggering" and "clear proof that the Labour government has lost control of our welfare system."
He stated: "Under Kemi Badenoch, we've set out a clear, common-sense position. This is about fairness, responsibility and protecting support for those who've contributed to this country."
Downing Street responded that Sir Keir Starmer wants to see fewer unemployed foreign nationals claiming benefits. A spokesperson said the government was "toughening up the system" by doubling the time migrants must wait before qualifying for permanent status.
Independent MP Rupert Lowe, who had pushed for the data's publication, described the levels as "absolute insanity" adding: "We cannot afford it. The country is BROKE."