Prefer Jewish News on Google
Restore Britain co-founder sparks anger with Farage ‘bought’ by Jews post
Reform Jewish Alliance chair Gary Mond condemns Charlie Downes post
The co-founder of the far-right Restore Britain political party has appeared to suggest that Nigel Farage has been “bought” by his Jewish supporters.
In a social media post that sparked outrage, Charlie Downes responded to a post on X by Reform leader Nigel Farage—who claimed he could not be bought—by sharing an image of Farage in front of signs for the Reform Jewish Alliance.
The image showed Farage standing at a podium bearing the group’s logo, with a Star of David visible in the background.
The Reform Jewish Alliance was established by Jewish supporters of Farage’s party, and Farage spoke at the group’s launch event.
Gary Mond, RJA’s chair told Jewish News:”This is a classic case of an attempt to demonise Jews by falsely accusing us of seeking to buy influence, one of the oldest antisemitic tropes.
“It is of course completely absurd and is frankly an illustration of the Jew hatred exhibited by many associated with Restore Britain.”
Restore Britain was founded by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe following a public dispute with Farage. The party has repeatedly denied accusations of extremism and has accused the media of conducting a “smear campaign” against it.
The party has also repeatedly claimed that white Britons risk becoming a minority in the coming decades. Downes has previously argued that Britain should be defined by indigenous British ancestry and Christianity.
This week, party leader Lowe faced criticism during a BBC Today programme interview when he declined to say whether King Charles III should be considered a white Briton, citing the monarch’s one foreign-born parent.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
