Farage under fire over references to Soros which 'capitalise' on antisemitic conspiracy theories

The American-based financier has used his charitable foundations to spread the idea of liberal democracy in Europe.

But opponents have alleged that he is undermining traditional Western culture.

The idea of wealthy Jews secretly working against Christian society has long been a staple of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

Mr Farage’s comments have been condemned across the political spectrum, including by the Conservative MP Theresa Villers, vice-chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism.

Labour’s Wes Streeting, also a vice-chair, told the Guardian: “Nigel Farage doesn’t want to answer questions about his smears against George Soros, because they play into some of the worst antisemitic tropes.

“He is in the gutter, capitalising on a rising tide of antisemitic conspiracy theories to peddle his political message. It is no more respectable than the racism he left behind in Ukip.”

But a Brexit Party spokesman told the Guardian that its story was “pathetic”.

There was “absolutely nothing in any of these remarks to substantiate an allegation of antisemitism,” the spokesman said.  “It is an exceptionally feeble attempt to portray Nigel Farage as an antisemite. Anybody with an iota of intelligence or objectivity will see right through it.”