Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has launched a furious attack on major broadcasters while vehemently denying accusations of malicious racism, as the number of his former school contemporaries alleging they witnessed deeply offensive behaviour rises to 28.
Angry Denials and Media Boycott Threats
In a heated London press conference, Farage suggested he would boycott the BBC, labelling the corporation "despicable" and criticising its historical programming. He also took aim at ITV, repeatedly invoking the name of the late comedian Bernard Manning, known for material widely condemned as racist and misogynistic.
The Reform leader's intemperate performance comes as his party experiences a dip in national polls. He admitted he may have engaged in schoolboy "banter" that would be viewed differently today but denied saying anything racist or antisemitic "with malice" or directly targeting individuals.
A Growing Chorus of Allegations from Dulwich College
The Guardian's investigation has now heard from 28 individuals who attended the prestigious Dulwich College with Farage. Five more came forward recently, motivated by what they described as the dismissive response from Farage and his party to the initial claims.
Among the most serious allegations are those from Peter Ettedgui, an Emmy- and Bafta-winning director, who recalls Farage repeatedly growling "Hitler was right" or "Gas them" at him during their schooldays. His account is now corroborated by at least eight other former pupils.
Nick Hearn, a banker and self-described conservative, witnessed the abuse. He told the Guardian it was "personal, vindictive, racist" and not mere banter, calling on Farage to "come clean" about his past behaviour.
Specific Incidents of Alleged Racism and Antisemitism
Multiple specific incidents have been recounted. One former pupil of Asian background claims Farage would tell him "Enoch Powell was right" as a form of "racial intimidation". Another alleges that, aged 17 or 18, Farage would make gas hissing noises at a Jewish pupil.
Several contemporaries recall an obsession with the surname Patel. Andy Field, an NHS doctor, remembered Farage burning a school roll in a year when there were more Patels than Smiths. Richard Flowers corroborated this, describing Farage stabbing his finger at a yearbook and exclaiming about the change. A school roll from 1980 shows 13 Patels and 12 Smiths.
Another former pupil described a disruptive assembly where Farage, then 18, would shout out aggressively each time the name Patel was read by the headmaster, seemingly to highlight it as foreign.
Party Response and a Letter in Defence
Reform's deputy leader, Richard Tice, previously dismissed all accusers as "liars". The confrontation escalated when BBC presenter Emma Barnett questioned Tice about Farage's "relationship with Hitler", a line of questioning Farage later condemned.
In his defence, Farage read a letter he said was from another former Jewish schoolmate, who stated that while Farage was sometimes offensive, it was "humour" and "never with malice". The writer claimed Farage was "neither aggressive nor a racist".
When pressed on whether the alleged events happened but were perceived differently, Farage offered the succinct reply: "Recollections may vary." The controversy continues to overshadow his party's campaign, raising persistent questions about his past conduct and current accountability.
