NIGEL Farage has been branded a "Putin-loving free speech imposter and Trump sycophant" by a congressman during his visit to the US.
The Reform UK leader was giving evidence to the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, where he attacked the UK's approach to civil liberties.
Farage likened Britain to North Korea over what he described as the "authoritarian" treatment of people like writer Graham Linehan, who was recently arrested on suspicion of inciting violence over three gender-critical posts.
Farage's visit to the US on Wednesday – where he also met US president Donald Trump –meant that he missed the first Prime Minister's Questions since Westminster returned from summer recess.
Raskin said: "In the UK, Mr Farage is openly promoting the abolition of the Human Rights Act of 1998 to be replaced with a British bill of rights that limits the right of free speech to British citizens and legally sanctioned residents.
"He complains that racist threats against immigrants are not protected free speech, while he proposes to strip migrants, tourists, and perhaps even visiting American congresspeople, of any free speech rights at all."
He went on to say: "There is a free speech crisis in America today, but there's no free speech crisis in Britain.
"UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has not shut down GB News, where Mr Farage has his own show, just because Mr Farage has used his airtime to call for banning peaceful protests that he disagrees with."
"For a man who fashions himself as some kind of a free speech martyr, Mr Farage seems most at home with the autocrats and dictators of the world who are crushing people on earth," Raskin added.
The congressman continued: "To the people of the UK who think this Putin-loving free speech imposter and Trump sycophant will protect freedom in your country, come on over to America and see what Trump and MAGA are doing to destroy our freedom.
"You might think twice before you let Mr Farage Make Britain Great Again."
Responding, Farage said: “I’m delighted to be acquainted with the charming Mr Raskin – delightful testimony you gave me earlier on with your speech.
“But hey, that’s fine. You can say what you like, I don’t care, because that’s what free speech is.
“In a sense, this has all been going wrong now for a couple of decades.”
During his visit to the US, the Reform UK leader also met with Trump, posting a picture on social media early on Thursday morning of the pair in the White House.
He wrote: "It's good to be back in the Oval Office."
It’s good to be back in the Oval Office. @realDonaldTrump 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/12GAQxm32L
— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) September 4, 2025
Farage has been slated for taking a trip to Washington instead of representing his constituents in the Commons.
At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Starmer said – in response to a question about Reform UK's opposition to the Online Safety Act – that the “honourable member for Clacton is not here representing his constituency, in the House he was elected to”.
He said Farage had instead “flown to America to badmouth and talk down our country” and suggest the Americans impose sanctions on the UK, adding that “you cannot get more unpatriotic than that, it’s a disgrace”.
