Nigel Farage says Labour anti-Semitism row is linked to the party trying to win Muslim votes

The Ukip leader accused Labour of 'sectarianism' in some areas

Nigel Farage speaking in support of Ukip's London mayoral candidate earlier this week (Getty)

The row over alleged anti-Semitism in Labour is somehow related to the party trying to win the votes of Britain’s Muslim population, Ukip’s leader has claimed.

Nigel Farage argued that Labour was engaging in “sectarian” politics in Bradford, where suspended MP Naz Shah sits as MP.

“I do feel that [criticism of Israel] begins to spill over sometimes, in what is the word ‘Israel’ being used as cover for anti-Semitism,” he told LBC radio.

“I think what has happened in Bradford, is that left-wing support and sympathy for anti-Israel/anti-Israeli views has now become allied to a very big growth in the Muslim vote in this country.

“I think what you have in Bradford is sectarian politics. I loathe it because if you think about the other part of the UK that has been plagued by sectarian politics, it’s called Northern Ireland, with Protestant versus Catholic, and look where that has got it.

“I’m worried that the left of the Labour party have always had this view; they’re now linking it in a desperate attempt to get all the Muslim votes in this country, and I think they’re in a bad place.”

Ms Shah defeated former Respect MP George Galloway, who held the seat until 2015 after winning it in a by-election in 2012. It had been held by Labour since the 1970s.

She was suspended by the party this week, after it emerged she had suggested support for a plan to relocate Israel to North American before becoming an MP. She has since apologised and said her views have changed.

Veteran Labour figure Ken Livingstone was also suspended for comments he made about Israel and Hitler in the course of defending Ms Shah on air the next day.

Mr Farage was asked whether Labour should expel Mr Livingstone or Ms Shah, and he suggested they would have been expelled from Ukip had they been members.

The row follows a series of expulsions and suspensions by the party for activists alleged to have made anti-Semitic statements.

The Independent reached out to the Muslim Council of Britain for comment on this story.