Antisemitism row erupts after British right-wing activist appears to suggest former political ally Farage was ‘bought’ by Jews

A British nationalist political activist has sparked an antisemitism controversy after appearing to suggest that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had been “bought” by Jews, prompting renewed scrutiny of his party's rhetoric and its alleged ties to far-right extremists.

Charlie Downes, 25, a co-founder and spokesman for the nationalist Restore Britain party and a former political ally of Farage, responded in February to an 𝕏 post in which Farage wrote that he “can't be bullied. I can't be bought. I've stood for the same principles for many decades."

Rather than responding with text, Downes posted a photograph of Farage speaking at the launch of the Reform Jewish Alliance, Reform UK's Jewish supporters' group. The photograph showed Farage standing behind a podium bearing the group's logo, with a Star of David visible in the background.

Although Downes did not include a caption, Jewish advocacy groups accused him of invoking a longstanding antisemitic trope that portrays Jews as secretly wielding financial or political influence.

"Restore Britain's spokesman insinuated that Nigel Farage had been bought by Jews – the oldest smear about money and influence, delivered as a picture so that nothing could be quoted back at him," Alex Hearn, a spokesman for the advocacy group Labour Against Anti-Semitism, told The Telegraph newspaper.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism also condemned the post, arguing that there is "nothing unusual or sinister" about Reform UK having a Jewish supporters' organization. Political parties routinely establish groups representing specific communities and constituencies, the organization noted.

"If Charlie Downes is suggesting that Reform or Mr. Farage have somehow been 'bullied' or 'bought' by Jews, would he say that veterans have done the same?" the organization asked. "Or is it just Jews for whom this pernicious imputation is reserved?"

The group said conspiracy theories alleging Jewish control over politics have historically been promoted by extremist movements, including Nazi Germany, and called on Restore Britain to explain the meaning of Downes' post or apologize.

The controversy has also drawn attention to Downes' broader political views and to accusations of extremism surrounding Restore Britain, a nationalist party founded by former Reform UK lawmaker Rupert Lowe following his highly publicized split with Farage.

Restore Britain began as a political pressure group in June 2025 before becoming a political party earlier this year. The party has distinguished itself from Reform UK by advocating significantly tougher immigration policies, including the mass deportation of millions of migrants, including some who are legally resident in Britain.

The party has also repeatedly warned that white Britons could become a minority in the coming decades. Downes has described that prospect as "terrifying" and argued that Britain should be defined by indigenous British ancestry and Christianity.

That definition has raised concerns about where Jews fit into Downes' vision of Britain, particularly given the long history of antisemitic movements defining Jews as outsiders even when they are citizens whose families have lived in a country for generations.

Downes has rejected accusations that Restore Britain is racist or white supremacist. But his rhetoric has continued to draw criticism.

After Allister Heath, editor of The Sunday Telegraph, published a column accusing Lowe of embracing white nationalist rhetoric, Downes called Heath a “traitor to the British people.” He subsequently wrote that he made "no apology for demanding demographic security for my people in our own homeland" and accused Heath of being "an agent of the anti-white establishment."

Billionaire Elon Musk, who has previously expressed support for Restore Britain, responded to Downes' post by writing, "True. Heath is a traitor."

Lowe has also faced criticism over his comments about race and British identity. During a BBC interview this week, he declined to say that King Charles III should be considered a white Briton because the monarch has one foreign-born parent.

When asked about reports defining white Britons as people whose parents were both born in the United Kingdom, Lowe said there were "different interpretations."

Lowe has repeatedly warned that white Britons could become a minority by 2063, describing the trend as "demographic vandalism."

The scrutiny surrounding Restore Britain intensified earlier this year after The Telegraph reported that some of the party's supporters included white supremacists with links to banned neo-Nazi organizations.

Among those identified was Steve Laws, founder of the campaign group Remigration Now, which advocates removing all nonwhite and Jewish people from Britain.

Laws has publicly said he joined and donated to Restore Britain and claimed to be in regular contact with Lowe's team, although Lowe denies the claim. Laws has also encouraged supporters to join the party in an effort to influence its policies.

Laws has made repeated comments praising aspects of Adolf Hitler's rule, saying that if he had lived in Germany in the 1930s he would have supported the Nazi regime because it had "some good policies."

He has also cast doubt on the accepted death toll of the Holocaust, questioning the credibility of the historical evidence while saying he does not support killing people but favors removing them from Britain.

Restore Britain has rejected accusations that it tolerates extremism, arguing that media organizations are conducting a politically motivated smear campaign against the party.