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Nigel Farage has prompted anger by saying a "Jewish lobby" has a "very powerful" influence over US politics.

The former UKIP leader was accused of peddling "anti-Semitic conspiracy theories" during his phone-in show on radio station LBC.

Mr Farage made the remark after a caller called Ahmed said Israel "affect both Democrats and Republicans, they've got them both in their pocket."

He replied: "Well in terms of money and influence, yep, they are a very powerful lobby.

"And Ahmed actually, America's interfered in elections all over the world for decades. There's a slight degree of hypocrisy about all this.

"Ahmed, new caller from Leyton, I thank you.

"He makes the point that there are other very powerful foreign lobbies in the United States of America and the Jewish lobby with its links with the Israeli government is one of those strong voices."

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During his regular primetime slot on the station, Mr Farage discussed with callers whether Russian influence had really aided the election of President Donald Trump.

Earlier, talking to the same caller, Mr Farage said Jewish people had disproportionate influence over American politics.

He said: "There are about six million Jewish people living in America, so as a percentage it’s quite small, but in terms of influence its quite big.

"They have a voice within American politics, as indeed do the Hindu groups and many other groups in America.

"But I don’t think anybody is suggesting that the Israeli government tried to affect the result of the American elections."

The Campaign Against Antisemitism said they have contacted Ofcom about the comments by the MEP.

Adam Langleben, a senior member of Jewish Labour, tweeted: "Nigel Farage just gone full conspiracy on LBC.

""Jewish lobby"... "with its money" "has lots of influence on American politics"."

Joe Glasman of the Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “It is common for countries to lobby their allies, and Israel is no different.

"But in his call with Ahmed, it was not merely alleged that Israel conducts lobbying, but that it is carried out by the entire Jewish population of the United States and that in doing so American politics are subverted.

"Counting all American Jews as lobbyists with disproportionate power and both major political parties in their financial grips is the stuff of antisemitic conspiracy theories.

“Mr Farage should immediately withdraw his deplorable comments and apologise for them, or LBC should relieve him of his duties.

"We await Mr Farage’s urgent apology and in the meantime we will be asking Ofcom to open an investigation.”

Ofcom confirmed it was assessing one complaint received last night about Nigel Farage's LBC show before deciding whether to investigate further.

Mr Farage made the point in a bid to show Russia was not the only country that tries to exert influence on foreign elections.

He said: "I would be stunned if anything came out that showed any interaction with Russia had any material effect on that election at all."