Nigel Farage has publicly addressed allegations of racist and antisemitic behaviour during his school years, nearly a week after approximately twenty of his contemporaries came forward with claims.
Breaking the Silence
The Reform UK leader broke his silence during an interview with ITV News on Monday, stating he had "never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody" during his time at Dulwich College. This marked his first personal response to a detailed Guardian investigation published last week.
When directly questioned about whether he had racially abused fellow pupils, Farage, 61, responded: "No, this is 49 years ago by the way, 49 years ago. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where they're from? No."
The Specific Allegations
The allegations against Farage span his teenage years until he was 18. Accusations include targeting minority ethnic children for abuse, singing an offensive song referencing the killing of Jewish, black and south-east Asian people with the lyrics "Gas 'em all", and burning a school roll in a year when there were reportedly more students with the surname Patel than Smith.
Among the accusers is Bafta and Emmy-winning director Peter Ettedgui, 61, who claimed that when they were both 13 and 14 years old, Farage would approach him and growl "Hitler was right" or "Gas them".
Another former pupil, who was around nine years old at the time, alleged being targeted by a 17-year-old Farage on three separate occasions. He described Farage asking where he was from and then pointing away while saying: "That's the way back" to wherever he replied he was from.
Nuanced Denials and Political Fallout
During the ITV interview, Farage offered nuanced responses to the allegations. When pressed for a categorical denial, he stated: "I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way. It's 49 years ago. I had just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can't."
When challenged again about whether he had racially abused anyone, Farage responded: "No, not with intent." Asked to clarify what he meant by "not with intent," the Reform leader simply replied: "You wouldn't."
Farage's initial refusal to address the claims publicly last week prompted Labour leader Keir Starmer to label him "spineless". Prior to Farage's interview, his spokesperson had questioned why these allegations hadn't surfaced during previous election campaigns or the Brexit referendum.
Peter Ettedgui expressed frustration with Reform's initial response, stating that Farage could have simply apologised for any racist remarks made as a teenager while assuring the public they don't reflect his current politics.
The controversy continues to unfold as Farage maintains his position that he cannot recall everything from nearly five decades ago but denies engaging in intentional racist or antisemitic behaviour.
