Reform UK leader Nigel Farage claims Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hesitant to act on rising antisemitism due to fears of losing key voter support.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has publicly criticized the British government’s response to rising antisemitism, alleging that political considerations are influencing its approach following a recent attempted arson attack on a London synagogue.
Speaking at a press conference Monday, Farage said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has failed to take sufficient action to address concerns within the Jewish community. His remarks followed commentary he published earlier in the Jewish Chronicle, where he argued that current responses have not matched the seriousness of the situation.
Farage stated, “…the Prime Minister, time after time, [says] ‘our thoughts and prayers are with the Jewish community’, it just is not good enough. It would appear he’s not prepared to lift a finger… this is a government busy looking at putting into law some definition of Islamophobia which would make even questioning the religion as something akin to Blasphemy, and you can see the numbers.”
He continued, “You can see the size of the Muslim voting population, or more specifically the Pakistani-Kashmiri-Bangladeshi population, and a Prime Minister terrified they’re going to lose that vote, which was a bloc Labour vote, to the Greens. So is it any wonder the Jewish community [feels under threat].”
The remarks come amid broader political tensions within the Labour Party related to shifting voter dynamics. Reports have highlighted concerns among party figures about electoral challenges in constituencies with significant Muslim populations. In previously reported private texts, Labour MP Wes Streeting expressed concern after a local election defeat, writing: “I fear we’re in big trouble here – and I am toast at the next election.”
Additional reporting has indicated that Labour has already lost some seats to independent candidates campaigning on issues related to Gaza, as detailed by The Independent, with further potential electoral impacts noted by PoliticsHome.
Farage also referenced his experience in European cities when discussing potential long-term social impacts. “I’ve seen this all before. 20 years I was in Brussels and I watched as the centre of Brussels became somewhere Jewish people could not safely live, they fled that city and went to Israel, America… the only Jews that felt comfortable staying in Brussels were wealthy ones who lived in gated communities,” he said.
He added, “I’ve seen this play out in other parts of Europe and I fear what we are witnessing — which was in slow-motion but now after the last few weeks appears to be at high speed — is a community that will effectively, unless something really strong and radical is done, be forced out of the areas from which they live, and I think it’s that serious.”
In earlier remarks published here, Farage described the situation as a “national disgrace,” stating that Jewish residents in the UK are facing “real, physical danger” and accusing the government of failing to adequately respond to what he characterized as an escalating issue.
The statements reflect ongoing debate in the United Kingdom over public safety, community relations and the political implications of shifting voter coalitions, as leaders respond to recent incidents and broader societal concerns.
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