Farage a ‘Putin-loving, free speech impostor’ claims leading Jewish Democrat politician
Appearing at US Congress, Reform UK leader tells 'delightful' James Baskin 'You can say what you like, I don’t care'
Nigel Farage was branded a “Putin-loving free speech impostor and Trump sycophant” by a leading Jewish Democrat politician at a meeting of Washington’s House Judiciary Committee where he is giving evidence on civil liberties.
US congressman Jamie Raskin also accused the Reform UK of hypocrisy over his support for free speech after citing Farage’s call for a pro-Gaza march to be banned in the UK, adding that in America “freedom of speech applies 365 days a year”.
Raskin, who has been one of the most outspoken Jewish Democrat voices of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, blasted Farage ahead of the UK politician’s speech to the Committee saying:”To the people of the UK who think this Putin-loving free speech impostor and Trump sycophant will protect freedom in this country, come on over to America and see what Trump and Maga are doing to destroy our freedom… you might… think twice before you let Mr Farage make Britain great again”.
He also echoed Keir Starmer’s criticism of the Reform UK leader for missing Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons to fly to America to voice concerns about free speech in Britain to politicians in Capitol Hill.
Raskin said: “He should go and advance the positions he’s taking here in Congress today, in Parliament, which is meeting today, if he’s serious about it”.
Farage said Raskin’s testimony was “delightful” adding: “You can say what you like, I don’t care”.
Giving evidence to the House Judiciary Committee in Capitol Hill, the Reform UK leader said: “I’m delighted to be acquainted with the charming Mr Raskin – delightful testimony you gave me earlier on with your speech.
“But hey, that’s fine. You can say what you like, I don’t care, because that’s what free speech is.
“In a sense, this has all been going wrong now for a couple of decades”.
Earlier at PMQs, Starmer had said, in response to a question about Reform UK’s opposition to the Online Safety Act, that the “honourable member for Clacton is not here representing his constituency, in the House he was elected to.”
He said Farage had instead “flown to America”.
Farage was later challenged by Raskin about his commitment to free speech, after the Reform UK leader suggested pro-Gaza protests were not appropriate on Remembrance Day.
He told the US House Judiciary Committee: “There was one particular day, and it was the Sunday nearest November 11, which was where we had big memorial services in London, and I think a march being allowed to go ahead on that day would have been a mistake”.
The Democrat politician responded that the United States has a written constitution where “freedom of speech applies 365 days a year here”, suggesting Farage’s call to halt a pro-Gaza march in November 2023 meant he was not committed to year-round free speech.
Raskin also questioned why Reform UK had prevented its councillors in Nottinghamshire from speaking with the local newspaper and its website, the Nottingham Post and Nottinghamshire Live.
Farage responded by describing himself as the “most open” political leader when it comes to answering journalists’ questions.
The news site Politico had previously reported how the pair had clashed earlier this summer in London when Farage reportedly accused Raskin of being “the most pig-headed person he’d ever met”.
The top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee was said to have clapped back: “This is why we had a revolution against you guys.”
Raskin was one of the first Jewish Democrats to expressly criticise Israel over the war with Hamas in Gaza.
In November 2023, just one month into the war in Gaza, Raskin was one of the first to call for a cease-fire, and May 2024, he voted against sending additional emergency aid to Israel.
Raskin, a Jewish Democrat in Maryland, has joined a growing list of Democrats backing a bill that would withhold the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel from the United States.
Ahead of his election in Maryland, Baskin emphasised his Jewish background amid claims he was a humanist.
He spoke to the Jewish Deomcratic Council of America in February this year, claiming Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s unconstitutional power grab was creating a “national and civic emergency”.
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