The co-founder of far-right political party Restore Britain has seemingly implied that he believes Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has been “bought” by Jews.
The 25-year-old activist responded to a recent post shared by Farage in which the former Clacton MP, who is contesting the seat again on August 13, said he “could not be bought”.
Commenting on the post, Downes shared an image of Farage at a launch event for the Reform Jewish Alliance (RJA), Reform UK’s Jewish caucus, without offering any explanation of his meaning.
Campaigners have subsequently accused Downes of repeating the “oldest smear” used to demonise Jewish people with the post.
Alex Hearn, director of Labour Against Antisemitism, said: “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.
“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.
“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.”
Downes, who has been a part of Restore since its inception, has also lamented the fact that he believes that white Britons will become a minority within 50 years, calling it a “terrifying prospect”.
On Thursday, leader of Restore Rupert Lowe refused to confirm if he believes that King Charles is a white Briton owing to the fact that the incumbent British monarch has a single foreign-born parent.
Meanwhile, Farage was himself accused of antisemitism back in 2017 for agreeing with an LBC caller that the ‘Jewish lobby’ has a disproportionate amount of power in the US, a remark for which he declined to apologise.
He was also accused by several former schoolmates from his time at Dulwich College of making antisemitic comments, including making a hissing sound to mimic gas chambers, while at the prestigious school.
Farage has strenuously denied the allegations relating to his school days.
To get more Politics news, click here to sign up for our free politics newsletter.