The leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, is facing accusations of directly copying the political tactics of his ally, former US President Donald Trump, in his response to allegations of racist and antisemitic behaviour during his school years.
The Four Tactics of the Trump Playbook
Political analysts and opponents have identified a clear pattern in Farage's reaction since The Guardian published its investigation into his time at Dulwich College in London. The Liberal Democrats have been particularly vocal, with deputy leader Daisy Cooper stating: "Nigel Farage is following the Donald Trump playbook letter for letter: deny reality, threaten to sue, smear the individuals involved and attack the media." She labelled these "calculated tactics" as a desperate bid to avoid scrutiny by importing American populist tricks.
Steven Barnett, Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster, confirmed the similarity. "Is it out of the Trump playbook? I think that's exactly what's going on," he said, noting that Farage's method of turning defence into attack mirrors the approach of Trump's White House press secretary.
Legal Threats and Shifting Denials
The first response from Farage's camp was a legal threat from his barrister, Adam Richardson. The letter warned The Guardian that publishing the allegations would lead to immediate proceedings seeking an injunction, a public retraction, and maximum damages. This instinct to sue media outlets is a hallmark of Trump's strategy.
Initially, Reform UK issued a flat denial, stating the claim that Farage "ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied". However, Farage's own comments have since shifted. When questioned directly, he stated, "I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way … No, not with intent," and referred to "banter in a playground" being viewed differently today. Sunder Katwala of British Future noted this as a less brazen approach than Trump's, calling them "slightly evasive denials."
Attacking Accusers and Bombarding the Media
Following Trump's well-documented practice, Farage and his deputy, Richard Tice, have moved to attack the integrity of his accusers. This includes Peter Ettedgui, an award-winning director who alleges Farage repeatedly said "Hitler was right". Farage has suggested a "strong political element" motivates the 28 people who have now corroborated aspects of the story, though most have no party ties.
The most stark example of media confrontation came during a Thursday night press conference. Farage threatened to boycott the BBC, labelled presenter Emma Barnett as "lower grade," and repeatedly shouted the name of controversial comedian Bernard Manning. Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38 Degrees and a former digital strategist for Labour and Barack Obama, said this tactic was no coincidence. "Picking a fight with the media doesn't just change the subject, it also reinforces the thing that he wants to say about himself: that he's the plucky underdog. It's just the same approach that Trump had."
McGregor suggested Farage might be testing the limits of British political discourse, much as Trump did from 2016 onwards. "Maybe he's on a similar journey to the one that Trump went on, testing the guardrails of politics," he observed. "It will be interesting to watch."
