Restore has descended into another antisemitism row after one of its co-founders suggested Reform had been ‘bought’ by Jewish supporters.
Charlie Downes was charged with pushing the ‘oldest smear’ of Jews after responding to a social media post of Mr Farage claiming he could not be bought with an image showing him at a Reform Jewish Alliance (RJA) meeting.
In the original post in February, Mr Farage posted a video of himself with the caption: ‘I can’t be bullied. I can’t be bought. I’ve stood for the same principles for many decades.’
Mr Downes immediately replied with a picture of the Reform leader speaking at the launch of RJA, a group representing Jewish people’s interests within the party.
In the image, Mr Farage stood behind a turquoise lectern with the group’s logo – featuring a Star of David – and its name in the background.
While Mr Downes did not caption the post, anti-Semitism campaigners slammed the Restore figure last night for seemingly amplifying antisemitic tropes.
Alex Hearn, spokesman for Labour Against Anti-Semitism, claimed that Restore Britain’s spokesman ‘insinuated that Nigel Farage had been bought by Jews – the oldest smear about money and influence’, and the message was ‘delivered as a picture so that nothing could be quoted back at him’.
He said: ‘It is not an aberration. Charlie Downes has said his party believes “Britain is a people defined by indigenous British ancestry and Christian faith” – a definition under which no Jew, and no other minority, can be British, however many generations we have been here.
Charlie Downes was charged with pushing the ‘oldest smear’ of Jews after responding to a social media post of Mr Farage claiming he could not be bought with an image showing him at a Reform Jewish Alliance (RJA) meeting
Charlie Downes was replying to a post from Nigel Farage saying he ‘can’t be bought’ (Credit: Nigel Farage/X)
Mr Downes then replied with a picture of the Reform leader speaking at the launch of RJA, a group representing Jewish people’s interests within the party (Credit: X)
‘High-profile Restore supporters have called for Jews to be deported and the party will not disown them. Anyone who objects to racism should object to Restore. They are the far Right in a suit.’
And a spokesman for Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said: ‘Like many political parties, Reform has a Jewish supporters’ group, just as it does other special interest groups. It was launched by Nigel Farage and other senior Reform figures.
‘There is nothing unusual or sinister in that, just as there isn’t in Reform having a veterans’ group.
‘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?
‘Or is it just Jews for whom this pernicious imputation is reserved?
‘Political extremists from the Soviets to the Nazis have tried to demonise Jews by suggesting that there is a Jewish conspiracy to subvert the will of the people by buying influence.
‘Restore Britain must clarify the meaning of this tweet by its own spokesperson or apologise for it and explain what further steps it intends to take.
‘Across society it has become open season on Jews: political parties must demonstrate whether they oppose this trend or intend to join it.’
Restore’s leadership has been repeatedly forced to defend itself over accusations it is becoming a platform for antisemitism
Responding to the accusations, Mr Lowe said the report from the Telegraph was another ‘hit piece on Restore Britain’.
He said: ‘It’s getting pathetic. Please come back to us when you have reported on my independent rape gang inquiry which so far you have entirely ignored.’
Restore’s leadership has been repeatedly forced to defend itself over accusations it is becoming a platform for antisemitism.
On Thursday, Mr Downes accused the Sunday Telegraph editor Alistair Heath of being a ‘traitor to the British people’ after the writer branded Mr Lowe’s views ‘repellent’.
He also accused Mr Heath of being an ‘agent of the anti-white establishment’ in a post online.
Elon Musk, the tech-billionaire backer of Restore, rowed in behind Mr Downes on X, writing: ‘True. Heath is a traitor.’
And it follows Mr Lowe, who was suspended by Reform last year over allegations over his conduct then formed Restore, refusing to say this week that the King is a ‘white Briton’.
Asked on BBC’s Today programme about a report suggesting white Britons were those whose parents were both born in the UK, Mr Lowe said there were ‘different interpretations’ of how to define a white Briton.
Mr Downes has previously said that ‘Restore Britain believes that Britain is a people defined by indigenous British ancestry and Christian faith’ and that white British people ‘face becoming a minority in their homeland’.
And the party has also been accused of welcoming white supremacists into its ranks.
One such figure, Steve Laws, calls for ‘total remigration’ of all non-white people, and has said he has ‘signed up and donated’ to Restore Britain.
He also describes himself as the founder of Remigration Now, which calls for the expulsion of every non-white and Jewish person from Britain.
The latest accusations against Mr Downes will throw further scrutiny on a potential deal between Restore and Reform to join forces at the next election.
Mr Lowe last week told Mr Farage that they needed to work together to bring about ‘a patriotic government’.
The Reform leader said he was ‘open-minded’ about the offer – with talks expected to be held soon, according to The Telegraph.
Restore Britain did not respond to the Daily Mail’s request for further comment.
