Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, is facing mounting pressure to apologise after the number of his school contemporaries alleging they witnessed or were victims of his racist and antisemitic behaviour has risen to thirty-four.
Fresh Allegations of Targeted Abuse
The latest to come forward is Jason Meredith, 58, who was three years below Farage at the prestigious Dulwich College in south-east London. Meredith, of Anglo-Indian heritage, claims Farage called him a "paki" and told him to "go back home". He says the taunts were repeated and that Farage had an "entourage" of hangers-on.
Meredith, now a product manager based in Switzerland, said he was motivated to speak out by Farage's denial of being racist. "What really irked me was the denial," he stated.
Shifting Denials and 'Banter' Defence
Farage has so far refused to apologise, characterising the accounts as "complete made-up fantasies" by people with "political motivation". His position has evolved from outright denial to admitting to "aggressive banter" that he insists was not malicious or intentionally directed.
This characterisation is firmly rejected by his accusers. Many of the thirty-four have spoken on the record, expressing anger at his handling of the situation. Last week, Farage told The Times the allegations were "having zero effect" and might even be "solidifying our core support".
Reform's deputy leader, Richard Tice, has labelled the accusers liars spreading "made up twaddle".
Detailed Accounts of Antisemitic Behaviour
Among the most serious allegations are those from Peter Ettedgui, a Bafta- and Emmy-winning film director who was a contemporary of Farage. Ettedgui claims Farage would sidle up to him and say "Hitler was right" and "gas them", sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate gas chambers.
His account is corroborated by Adrian Woods, 62, a translator who was in the sixth form with both men. Woods recalls intervening when Farage was "harassing [Ettedgui] about being a Jew", describing the behaviour as "pretty obnoxious".
Woods vividly remembers Ettedgui launching into Shylock's "Hath not a Jew eyes?" monologue from The Merchant of Venice as a direct response to Farage's needling. Ettedgui confirmed the incident, saying the Shakespearean words became a "weapon" against the hate speech.
Other former pupils have independently recalled Farage's use of antisemitic language. Chris Kibble, 62, stated he remembered the catchphrase "gas 'em all" coming from Farage's mouth. James Varcoe, 61, said Farage would sing songs about gassing Jews and was an "equal opportunity racist", also using the "P word" and the "N word".
Obsession with School Roll and Bullying
Multiple contemporaries have described Farage's fixation on the 1980 school roll, which The Guardian verified contained more boys with the surname Patel (13) than Smith (12). According to accounts, Farage frequently ranted about this and allegedly burned a copy of the roll.
Nick Cannon, 61, who was in Farage's year, recalled writing a letter to the headteacher to protest Farage's elevation to prefect. He said he witnessed younger children crying after encounters with Farage, with one boy alleging Farage told him "Hitler was right".
Twenty-six school contemporaries have now signed an open letter calling for an apology, which Farage has ignored. He has also not responded to a separate letter from eleven Holocaust survivors demanding he tell the truth and apologise for the alleged antisemitic abuse.
