![](\"https:\/\/cdni.rt.com\/files\/2018.02\/thumbnail\/5a7c7824dda4c807448b45c5.jpg\")
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Theresa May\u2019s former chief of staff, Nick Timothy, has been accused of \u201cpeddling textbook anti-Semitic tropes\u201d in a Telegraph article outlining George Soros\u2019 \u00a3400,000 donation to a pro-EU lobby group.<\/p>\n
Following the article\u2019s publication on Thursday, Timothy was accused of anti-Semitism in the front-page exclusive he co-authored, and which RT UK along with many other national outlets picked up.<\/p>\n
The article outlines how Soros, described by the Telegraph as the \u201cman who broke the Bank of England\u201d<\/em> in reference to the fortune he made betting against the sterling in the 1990s, is attempting to undermine the Tory government by donating \u00a3400,000 (US$560,000) to pro-EU group Best for Britain. The group is campaigning for a second referendum on the final Brexit deal agreed between Parliament and the EU.<\/p>\n The accusations of anti-Semitism were made by Guardian columnist Owen Jones, academic Bonnie Greer and King\u2019s College professor Jonathan Portes, among others. Portes drew a response from Timothy when he asked if he and the right-wing paper were really endorsing \u201canti-Semitic conspiracy theories.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Your tweet insinuating a terrible thing about me – which you now accept is wrong – has not been deleted and keeps being RTd. You should remove it. https:\/\/t.co\/W2IF8mpsip<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Nick Timothy (@NickJTimothy) February 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Jones called out the Telegraph for\u00a0“anti-Semitic\u00a0dog whistling,”<\/em> before doubling down on his statement.<\/p>\n Sorry, I\u2019ve got this wrong. As the people correcting me rightly say, this isn\u2019t an anti-Semitic dog whistle on the part of the Telegraph, it\u2019s an anti-Semitic bullhorn.<\/p>\n \u2014 Owen Jones🌹 (@OwenJones84) February 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Portes and Jones made the allegations on the contents of a separate comment box halfway down the article which details how Soros had been accused of \u201cmeddling\u201d<\/em> with governments\u2019 \u201cinternal affairs\u201d<\/em> through his Open Society Foundation (OSF). The authorship of the comment box is credited to Callum Adams.<\/p>\n Adams\u00a0details how Soros, a survivor of Nazi Germany, was accused by \u201chardline Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of trying to orchestrate an ultra-liberal crusade in the country.\u201d<\/em> Orban himself faces accusations of anti-Semitism.<\/p>\n Timothy rebutted allegations of anti-Semitism, saying they are \u201cas absurd as they are offensive.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0<\/p>\n Throughout my career I\u2019ve campaigned against anti-Semitism, helped secure more funding for security at synagogues and Jewish schools, fought to lift the cap on faith schools, and supported Israel. The accusations and insinuations against me are as absurd as they are offensive.<\/p>\n \u2014 Nick Timothy (@NickJTimothy) February 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Despite Timothy\u2019s protestations, the allegations were backed by some of the UK\u2019s most prominent journalists and commentators.<\/p>\n Jewish Chronicle editor Stephen Pollard highlighted the controversial implications of using the phrase \u201csecret plot.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Telegraph story is disturbing because of the use of the idea it\u2019s a \u201csecret plot.\u201d Soros is incredibly open about what he does. Say it\u2019s wrong; fine. But idea it\u2019s a secret plot is exactly the line being used in Hungary and elsewhere precisely because he is Jewish.<\/p>\n \u2014 Stephen Pollard (@stephenpollard) February 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Journalist James Ball cautioned May and her government to distance herself from such rhetoric.<\/p>\n This needs saying clearly: baiting people on George Soros conspriacy theories is a tactic currently being used by would-be autocrats and anti-Semitic groups across the world.<\/p>\n Theresa May and Conservative MPs should distance themselves from this tactic, and fast. https:\/\/t.co\/wgCQM8RwOW<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 James Ball (@jamesrbuk) February 7, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Some did, however, come to Timothy\u2019s defense. Sir Eric Pickles, the former Tory cabinet minister who is the prime minister\u2019s Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust, branded the claims \u201cludicrous\u201d\u00a0<\/em>due to Timothy being\u00a0“a consistent friend of Israel.”<\/em><\/p>\n @NickJTimothy<\/a>@Telegraph<\/a> we have known each other for a good years, we were on opposite sides during the EU referendum, the idea that you would endorse Antisemitism views is ludicrous. You are a consistent friend of Israel. Nasty smears add nothing to arguments<\/p>\n \u2014 Sir Eric Pickles (@EricPickles) February 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage chipped in tweeting at Alastair Campbell, writing: \u201cWhy is it as soon as Soros is mentioned, suddenly you\u2019re an anti-Semite? Is the man beyond question?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n While others argued critics are missing the point altogether, as there should be more uproar over Hungarian-American businessman Soros chucking the eye-watering sum of \u00a3400,000 to an anti-Brexit campaign group.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve got to see the funny side of this: all that hysterical fake news about \u2018Russian interference\u2019 in Brexit & here we have one side receiving \u00a3400K from a US billionaire who is part of the US political establishment. Is that not \u2018interference\u2019 ?!! https:\/\/t.co\/URzrB3ciLd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Neil Clark (@NeilClark66) February 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n In turn, the Russian embassy in London appeared to echo this as it expressed frustration over the UK government\u2019s failure to act on the news of the alleged \u201cpolitical collusion\u201d<\/em> by Soros. When it comes to pointing the finger at Russia, however, the government needs no second invitation.<\/p>\n A Russian company spends 72p on Facebook ads: interference, hybrid war, parliamentary inquiry \u2014 Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) February 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n If you like this story, share it with a friend!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Soros spends \u00a3400K on bringing down UK Government: nothing to worry about pic.twitter.com\/yeCZw4Z2B1<\/a><\/p>\n