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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.

"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.

"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."

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."