Former Cabinet Minister Challenges Farage Over School Bullying Allegations
Sajid Javid, the former Conservative chancellor and home secretary, has publicly called on Nigel Farage to issue a formal apology for alleged racist and antisemitic comments made during their school days. This intervention follows a Guardian investigation that uncovered more than thirty individuals from Dulwich College who have accused the Reform UK leader of engaging in discriminatory bullying behaviour.
Javid's Personal Perspective on Integration and Accountability
In a comprehensive interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, Javid reflected on his own journey as the first home secretary from an ethnic minority background, appointed in 2018. He emphasised that Farage's remarks, even if intended as banter, were "clearly the wrong thing to say" and that demonstrating personal growth should begin with an apology.
"He could well be a totally different person today," Javid stated. "But to demonstrate you are a different person, it starts with an apology and he hasn't done that yet. That's what disturbs me."
Background of Allegations and Farage's Response
The Guardian's investigation revealed disturbing accounts from Farage's contemporaries, including award-winning Jewish film-maker Peter Ettedgui, who alleged that Farage would make comments such as "Hitler was right" and "gas them," accompanied by hissing noises simulating gas chambers. Farage has consistently denied these allegations, dismissing them as "complete made-up fantasies" driven by political motivation and asserting he never directly targeted anyone with racist abuse or intended harm.
In November, fresh allegations emerged, prompting twenty-six school contemporaries to write an open letter expressing their "dismay and anger" at Farage's refusal to acknowledge or apologise for his past behaviour. The letter highlighted that their concern was less about historical events and more about his current stance of denial.
Javid's Family Story and Views on British Society
Javid shared his personal narrative of integration, noting that his parents immigrated from Pakistan and he began primary school in Rochdale without speaking English. Despite these challenges, he ascended to prominent roles including home secretary, health secretary, and chancellor. He praised British Muslims as a success story of integration and described Britain as "the most successful multiracial society on earth."
This call for accountability comes amid ongoing political tensions, with Javid's remarks underscoring broader debates about racism, personal responsibility, and the standards expected of public figures in contemporary British politics.
