Nigel Farage's adviser has described the Ukip leader's decision to stand beside George Galloway at an anti-EU rally as "stupid".

Andrew Reid, Ukip's former national treasurer and donor, said he was shocked when a picture emerged of his friend and party leader Mr Farage standing next to former Respect party MP Mr Galloway, a longstanding anti-Israel activist.

Mr Galloway was invited to speak at the Grassroots Out anti-EU rally with Mr Farage last month. As a result of his attendance, more than 100 people were reported to have left the event which was said to be dominated by Tory and Ukip voters.

Mr Reid told the JC that he contacted Mr Farage after the picture was published.

He also denied that Mr Farage shared any of Mr Galloway's views on Israel – also dismissing any suggestion that the two were now friends.

Lawyer Mr Reid said: "The real situation is they have no more in common than when they first started – bar an interest in coming out of Europe.

"They have nothing in common when it comes to Israel, definitely not."

He said the decision to have a picture together was "stupid".

"It was not thought through," he added. "I advise [Mr Farage] and he did not tell me about it. No one came to me and said: 'Would you do this?'

"I would have said 'no'.

"I sent Nigel a note afterwards – I don't think he disagreed [with me]."

Mr Reid, a former deputy chairman of Hendon Conservatives and an anti-Europe campaigner, said he would back a hypothetical alliance between Tory MP Boris Johnson, who has openly backed Brexit, and Mr Farage.

"If we get out of Europe, hopefully there will be a new centre party," he said. "Both of them together would be a very good combination."