Jewish activists heckled Nigel Farage at the launch of a Reform UK Jewish members' organisation on Tuesday night, accusing the party of using the group as cover for persecuting other minorities. The event, held at the Central synagogue in London, was attended by about 200 people.
Activists stood up during Farage's speech, with Carla Bloom recalling her family's history of persecution and fighting the far right in the 1930s. She said: 'My mother didn't fight the Mosley fascists in Cable Street for this.' Others questioned Farage's credibility, citing allegations of antisemitic comments from his former schoolmates at Dulwich College, which Farage has dismissed as 'complete made-up fantasies'.
Josh Cohen, 32, from the activist group Na'amod, said he was disgusted by talk of Jews as 'model immigrants', arguing it was aimed at paving the way for persecution of other minorities. 'We are disgusted by antisemitism but we believe Reform are an active threat to the Muslim community and to immigrants and asylum-seeker communities in the UK,' he said.
Outside the event, protesters from the Jewish Bloc for Palestine held placards bearing alleged comments by Farage. Amy Kershenbaum, 58, who was inside, said: 'Many of us would not be here if Reform policies were in place when our ancestors sought refuge.'
Farage told the event that 'Judeo-Christian principles' were the foundation of Britain's achievements. He said he set up the Reform Jewish Alliance after meeting the family of Emily Damari, a British hostage taken by Hamas, because there had been no effective campaign for her release.
The group is led by Gary Mond, a former senior vice-president at the Board of Deputies. Research shows support for Reform among British Jews rose from 3% in August 2024 to 11% in June 2025.
