Nigel Farage spoke at the launch of his party’s Jewish Alliance this afternoon (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage has warned that British Jews will be living in “gated communities” in the future. The leader of Reform UK was speaking at the launch of his party’s Jewish Alliance this afternoon. In a recording heard by The Express, he said he had seen the future while living in Strasbourg during his time as an MEP.
Mr Farage told those in attendance: “I’ve seen what happens in communities if Jewish minorities come under attack, and there’s no one there to defend them.
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“The apartment that I had in Strasbourg, a nice part of Strasbourg, it was sort of walking distance, a 20-minute walk, to the European Parliament. I used to walk most mornings, to sort of get rid of the hangover.”
The audience laughed.
He added: “And I had to walk through a district behind a Jewish school…a predominantly Jewish school. And I’m now going back 12, 13 years, where those little kids, who are four or five years old, were going into school with armed soldiers to protect them.
Mr Farage had a flat in Strasbourg while serving as an MEP (Image: Getty)
“And that was in Strasbourg. You think that was bad, there are virtually now no single Jewish [people] living in the centre of Brussels. It is impossible. The only Jews still living in Brussels are those who are successful lawyers…who live in a gated community with 24-hour security. I’m afraid, on the current path, that is the future for the British Jewish community. I’m sorry, but I’m not wrong.
“That is the trend. That is where we’re going. I’ve seen it happen in Strasbourg. I’ve seen it happen in Brussels. I don’t want it to happen here.”
Mr Farage added that he is not asking for “special rights” for British Jews, but “at this particular moment of peril, they are going to need a lot more protection than everybody else, because they are under a direct threat”.
Robert Jenrick also spoke, calling so-called “hate marches” by pro-Palestine protesters an “attack on each and every one of us in this country”.
He added: “We want to live in a multi-faith, multi-ethnic society, which is united and well integrated. One country under one flag.”
Robert Jenrick spoke at the launch with Mr Farage (Image: Getty)
In October, Mr Jenrick was criticised after a recording emerged of him saying that he had visited an area of Birmingham where he “didn’t see another white face”, adding that this was not the kind of country he wanted to live in.
The Conservative defector also stated at today’s event that Reform is fighting forces that are “anti-Jewish and anti-British”.
An attendee described the event as “a packed room and strong speeches on the need to tackle antisemitism, hate marches and defend Jewish life in the UK”.
They added: “Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick, Richard Tice and Nigel Farage all addressed the room.
“A strong response to Nigel Farage’s calls to tackle sectarianism and ensure British Jews can live freely and in safety.”
Nigel Farage Warns British Jews Will Be Forced to Live in ‘Gated Communities’
Nigel Farage has issued one of his strongest warnings yet about antisemitism in Britain, claiming that British Jews could eventually find themselves living behind private security in “gated communities” if the current situation continues.
The Reform UK leader made the comments while speaking about antisemitism, social division and security at the launch of his party’s Jewish Alliance. Farage said his concerns were based partly on what he had personally witnessed while living in Strasbourg during his time as a Member of the European Parliament, as well as what he described as changes in Brussels.
His remarks immediately attracted attention because of the seriousness of the prediction.
Farage argued that Jewish communities should be able to live openly and safely in British towns and cities rather than feeling compelled to isolate themselves for protection. He said he did not want Britain to follow what he described as the trajectory he had witnessed in parts of continental Europe.
At the same time, the comments have generated criticism from Jewish community figures who say that the situation in Brussels is considerably more complicated than Farage’s description suggests.
The dispute highlights a wider and increasingly urgent debate about antisemitism, community security and social cohesion in Britain.
Farage’s warning
Farage told his audience that he had seen what can happen when Jewish minorities come under attack and governments fail to provide sufficient protection.
He recalled living in Strasbourg and walking near a predominantly Jewish school. According to his account, young children were being accompanied by armed soldiers as they entered the school.
He then compared that experience with Brussels.
Farage claimed that there were now virtually no Jewish people living in central Brussels and that the Jewish residents who remained were mainly wealthy professionals able to live in secure areas with private protection. He warned that, unless the situation changed, he feared the same pattern could eventually emerge in Britain.
The warning was deliberately stark.
Farage said he did not want British Jews to face a future in which security concerns determined where they could live, work or send their children to school.
His argument was that antisemitism should be confronted before communities become so concerned about their safety that they begin withdrawing from wider society.
Antisemitism and public security
The comments come amid wider concern about antisemitism across Europe.
Jewish communities in several countries have faced security threats, demonstrations, harassment and attacks over recent years.
The situation has been particularly sensitive since the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
The conflict has produced large demonstrations in cities around the world, including London and other British cities.
Supporters of Palestinian causes have argued that demonstrations are a legitimate form of political expression and that criticism of the Israeli government should not be confused with hostility towards Jewish people.
Jewish organisations, meanwhile, have repeatedly warned that political anger surrounding Israel can sometimes spill over into antisemitism.
The distinction between political protest and hatred against Jews has consequently become an important part of the debate.
Farage’s wider argument
Farage connected his warning about Jewish security to what he describes as a broader failure of social cohesion.
In previous speeches, he has argued that Britain is becoming increasingly divided and that public institutions sometimes treat different communities differently.
During a 2026 ARC interview, he again raised concerns about antisemitism and said he feared London could follow developments he claimed to have witnessed in Brussels. He also criticised what he described as “two-tier” policing and argued that the authorities should apply the law equally to everyone.
His position is that Britain should have a consistent approach to law enforcement regardless of the identity or political views of the people involved.
Farage has also focused heavily on what he calls radical Islamist extremism.
He has argued that governments need to confront extremist organisations and prevent the spread of hatred.
These claims are politically contentious, particularly when discussions about extremism become linked to Britain’s Muslim population as a whole.
A distinction therefore matters: opposition to extremist organisations is not the same as opposition to Muslims generally, and criticism of government policy is not automatically antisemitic.
The reaction from Jewish community figures
Farage’s comments about Brussels have been challenged by Jewish representatives in Belgium.
Eitan Bergman, vice-president of the Coordinating Committee of Belgian Jewish Organisations, told Jewish News that describing Jewish life in Brussels as a “ghetto-like” existence was inaccurate.
He said Belgium’s Jewish population includes secular Jews, Haredi Jews, Israelis and people working for institutions such as the EU and NATO.
Bergman also argued that residential patterns cannot automatically be interpreted as evidence that Jewish people are being forced into particular areas because of antisemitism.
Some Jewish families may choose to live close to synagogues, kosher shops, schools and other community institutions.
At the same time, he acknowledged that antisemitism remains a real challenge and that stronger public action is needed.
That response illustrates the complexity of the issue.
It is possible for a Jewish community to face genuine security concerns while also maintaining a vibrant and diverse presence within a city.
The existence of security measures does not automatically prove that a community has been forced into isolation.
The role of police
Another major part of Farage’s argument concerns policing.
He has accused British authorities of failing to provide adequate protection to Jewish communities and has questioned whether the police have responded strongly enough to antisemitic incidents.
However, British Jewish community representatives have disputed this assessment.
Jewish News reported that senior communal figures praised cooperation between the Community Security Trust and British police, particularly counter-terrorism officers.
One security source described coordination between the organisations as exemplary and said police had provided additional officers while investigations into attacks on Jewish institutions continued.
This creates an important disagreement.
Farage believes Britain needs a much stronger response.
Community representatives acknowledge the seriousness of the threat but say that police and security organisations are already working closely together.
The debate therefore concerns both the scale of the threat and the effectiveness of the response.
Why “gated communities” has such a powerful meaning
The phrase “gated communities” carries a particularly strong implication.
It suggests that Jewish people could eventually become unable to live freely in ordinary neighbourhoods and would instead need private security to protect themselves.
For Farage, this is intended as a warning about what could happen if antisemitism is not confronted.
For critics, however, the phrase risks exaggerating the current situation and creating unnecessary fear.
The difference is essentially between a warning about a possible future and a description of the present.
Farage says he is describing a trend he believes he has already witnessed elsewhere.
Critics argue that the evidence does not justify assuming that Britain will inevitably follow the same path.
The importance of distinguishing evidence from prediction
There is an important difference between documenting antisemitic incidents and predicting that an entire community will eventually be forced behind security barriers.
The first can be measured through recorded crimes, surveys and reports from organisations monitoring antisemitism.
The second is a forecast.
Farage’s prediction is therefore best understood as his political warning rather than an established fact.
His comparison with Brussels is based on his own observations and interpretation of developments there.
Belgian Jewish representatives have disputed parts of that interpretation, while still acknowledging that antisemitism remains a serious problem.
This distinction matters because the issue is emotionally charged.
Accurate information is particularly important when discussing the safety of minority communities.
Political consequences
Farage’s comments also come at an important moment for Reform UK.
The party has been seeking to expand its appeal beyond its traditional focus on immigration and Brexit.
Its Jewish Alliance represents an attempt to engage directly with Jewish voters and organisations around issues including antisemitism, security and social integration.
At the launch, other political figures also spoke about the issue.
Robert Jenrick, who has joined Reform, described some pro-Palestinian demonstrations as attacks on British society and argued for a united, multi-faith and multi-ethnic country.
The event therefore combined concerns about antisemitism with a broader political message about national identity and integration.
Protecting Jewish life in Britain
Regardless of the political disagreement surrounding Farage’s remarks, the underlying question is serious.
Jewish families should be able to attend schools, visit synagogues, participate in community events and live in ordinary neighbourhoods without fearing harassment or violence.
Security measures can provide protection, but they are not a substitute for a society in which antisemitism is rejected.
That requires effective policing, education, political leadership and a clear distinction between legitimate political debate and hatred directed at people because they are Jewish.
It also requires careful treatment of other communities.
Combating antisemitism should not mean treating Muslims collectively as responsible for the actions of extremists. Similarly, opposing antisemitism does not require accepting every policy of the Israeli government.
A democratic society must be able to maintain these distinctions.
A warning that has opened a wider debate
Farage’s “gated communities” warning has therefore become part of a much broader conversation.
His supporters see it as a blunt but necessary warning based on what he says he witnessed in Strasbourg and Brussels.
His critics argue that his description of Jewish life in Brussels is inaccurate or overly simplistic and that British policing already provides significant cooperation and protection to Jewish communities.
Both sides nevertheless point to the existence of a genuine problem: antisemitism remains a serious concern and Jewish communities require effective protection.
The disagreement is over the scale of the problem, its causes and what should be done about it.
Farage’s prediction that British Jews could eventually need to live in heavily protected communities is not an established future outcome. It is a warning about what he believes could happen if antisemitism and social division continue unchecked.
Whether Britain moves in that direction will depend on many factors, including policing, political leadership, community relations and the wider international environment.
What is clear is that the debate has moved beyond statistics.
It is now about what kind of society Britain wants to be: one in which Jewish citizens can live openly as part of ordinary communities, or one in which security concerns increasingly shape everyday life.
That is the question behind Farage’s dramatic warning—and it is likely to remain a significant part of Britain’s political debate over antisemitism and social cohesion.