Nigel Farage accused of antisemitism for singling out 'North London commentators' in anti-migrant tirade

Nigel Farage has got his priorities in order.

In the midst of a global pandemic, with Britain the worst affected country in Europe, the former MEP decided to… travel to Dover to complain about migrants.

On Monday, Farage posted a video to Twitter, showing him standing in front of the Port of Dover.

The Brexit Party leader was there to complain about illegal immigration and watched the UK Border Force appearing to bring in a boat of migrants they had rescued from the English Channel.

Farage lives in Chelsea, West London, with French partner Laure Ferrari.

This was the second time Farage had broken lockdown to “report” on what he calls the “illegal migrant scandal”.

But after uploading two videos showing him flouting the rules – despite slamming people violating lockdown guidance on his LBC radio show last week – he was paid a visit by police.

Farage claimed two police officers had visited him around 10pm on 4 May to advise him on “essential travel” after his visit to Dover.

He referred to the visit as “lockdown lunacy”, before returning to Kent for a third time to film at Dover again.

This time, Farage’s ire wasn’t just directed at “refugees” (who Farage believes should not be allowed to claim asylum if they travel via the English Channel, despite studies finding that stricter immigration laws, like the UK has in place, actually drives more illegal immigration than if border controls were relaxed), but also a cohort he called “North London commentators”.

And the use of the latter term has landed him in more hot water, with critics accusing him of anti-semitism.

His singling out of “North London” commentators was seen as an attempt to position Jewish individuals as the primary critics of Farage’s message.

Farage, of course, has critics from all over London and, indeed, the entire country.

“North London” has long been recognised as a euphemism for Jewish, owing to the area's historic Jewish community. But the term has been adopted as a way to smuggle anti-semitic tropes into speech that others might miss if they don’t know the context.

There was scepticism that a man as involved in far-right movements as Nigel Farage would be unaware of the subliminal meaning of the phrase.

Farage has not responded to the accusations; however he has written a widely ridiculed letter to the Chief Constable of Kent Police.

Someone take away his car keys, his Twitter password and his bigotry, please.