Fresh allegations about Nigel Farage's school years have emerged, with multiple former classmates describing a pattern of racist and antisemitic behaviour during his time at Dulwich College in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
School contemporaries recall disturbing behaviour
Peter Ettedgui, who attended the fee-paying school with the Reform UK leader, recalls being targeted with antisemitic remarks. "He would sidle up to me and growl: 'Hitler was right' or 'Gas them'," Mr Ettedgui stated. He also remembers hearing Mr Farage "calling other students 'Paki' or 'Wog' and urging them to 'go home'."
Another contemporary, Tim France, served with Mr Farage in the college's combined cadet force and remembers him "regularly" giving Nazi salutes and singing a racist anthem titled "Gas 'em all". Jean-Pierre Lihou, a school friend, confirms similar behaviour, noting Mr Farage would chant "Oswald Mosley" in the playground and use German-inflected antisemitic language.
Pattern of behaviour emerges
Further accounts suggest this wasn't isolated behaviour. Andy Field recalls witnessing Mr Farage set fire to the school roll after learning there were more students with the surname Patel than Smith. These revelations build upon material previously published in Michael Crick's biography, which documented staff discussions about whether Mr Farage should be made a prefect given his conduct.
While Mr Farage previously admitted saying "some ridiculous things" during his school years, he claimed they were "not necessarily racist things". The Guardian's recent investigation, drawing on more than a dozen testimonies, suggests this characterization may be misleading.
Political implications and public scrutiny
As Reform UK continues to perform strongly in opinion polls, questions about Mr Farage's fitness for potential high office have intensified. The party leader has responded with outright denials through his lawyers, claiming he never made racist or antisemitic remarks as a teenager.
However, the weight of multiple independent accounts from both victims and witnesses creates a significant credibility challenge. With Reform UK potentially edging closer to power, the public has a legitimate interest in understanding the full context of their leader's past statements and behaviour.
The controversy raises broader questions about how politicians' historical views should be assessed, particularly when they seek the highest offices. Media interrogators now face pressure to pursue these allegations further, while Mr Farage bears responsibility for providing comprehensive answers to maintain public trust.
