London Mayor Sadiq Khan has expressed profound dismay at what he describes as "desperate" denials from Nigel Farage regarding allegations of racist behaviour during his school years.
Personal Experience with Racist Abuse
Khan revealed how testimony from more than twenty individuals about the Reform UK leader's alleged conduct had evoked powerful memories from his own childhood. "Being called the 'P word' at that age doesn't just hurt you, it changes you," the 55-year-old mayor stated emotionally.
He elaborated on the lasting impact of such experiences: "It changes how you pronounce your name. It changes the way you talk to your friends, and it changes the way you walk down the street. These are experiences you never forget. I still remember vividly how I felt."
Farage's Controversial Response
The London mayor expressed confusion about why Farage, 61, had failed to apologise to his former contemporaries from Dulwich College in southeast London. Khan specifically criticised Farage's suggestion that the alleged abuse could be dismissed as "banter" from a different era, arguing this perspective ignores the profound effect on victims.
"Growing up in London in the 70s and 80s, I was no stranger to racist abuse," Khan recalled. "Those responsible might have thought it was a bit of harmless banter, but I'll never forget how their words made me feel."
The mayor, who is the son of a bus driver and seamstress from Pakistan, has previously spoken about facing abuse during his childhood in Tooting, south London. In 2019, he revealed that everyone outside his immediate family had been mispronouncing his name as "Sad-eek" rather than the correct "Saad-ick".
Serious Allegations Surface
Farage faces mounting pressure to apologise for alleged behaviour spanning six years, from age 13 to 18. Among the most serious claims comes from Peter Ettedgui, 61, now an Emmy- and Bafta-winning director, who told the Guardian that Farage would "sidle up to me and growl: 'Hitler was right,' or 'Gas them,'" sometimes adding a hissing sound to simulate gas showers.
Khan responded strongly to these reports: "I'm sure that the multiple reports that Nigel Farage regularly used vile racist and antisemitic language as a London schoolboy will strike a nerve with all those who were on the receiving end of racism growing up."
He warned that "we risk normalising racism like we did decades ago" despite societal progress, emphasising that "racism has the same long-lasting impact on people now as it did then."
Farage's legal representatives initially issued categorical denials, claiming he "never engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour." However, the Reform leader later appeared to shift his position in a BBC interview, acknowledging he might have said things "50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground."
He subsequently issued a new statement: "I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published in the Guardian aged 13, nearly 50 years ago."
Political Reactions and Consequences
Khan praised those who came forward with their accounts, stating: "They were right to speak out, and Nigel Farage's refusal to apologise speaks volumes about the character of a man who claims he wants to be the prime minister of this country."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer also addressed the allegations during a visit to Bushey United Synagogue in Hertsmere. After speaking with Jewish students about their experiences with antisemitism, Starmer stated: "It has massively impacted them. It is really difficult for them to even talk about it, and I know they're going to carry that for years and years; this is not just something that can be passed over."
The Prime Minister described the allegations against Farage as "serious" and noted they "affect human beings in a visceral way."
Farage has claimed the allegations are politically motivated, though the government has seized upon the claims reported by the Guardian.
