Thirty-four contemporaries of Nigel Farage have now alleged they witnessed him behaving in a racist or antisemitic manner during their time at Dulwich College, intensifying pressure on the Reform UK leader over his evolving denials.
Jason Meredith, who was three years below Farage at the private south London school, told the Guardian that Farage called him a "paki" and used taunts such as "go back home". Meredith, 58, of Anglo-Indian heritage and now a product manager in Switzerland, said he was motivated to speak out by support for anti-racism. "The word 'paki' was bandied by him – by Farage – there was kind of an entourage, if I remember right, hangers on," he said. "Simple taunts like 'Jason is a paki'. I was 15, 16, something like that."
Farage has refused to apologise. His position has shifted from outright denial to characterising the incidents as "banter". On Wednesday he told ITV News he would not apologise for "complete made-up fantasies", while later telling Times Radio he acknowledged "aggressive banter" but dismissed claims he told a schoolmate to "go back to Africa" and made gas hissing noises at a Jewish pupil as "complete fantasy land".
Most of the 34 have spoken on the record, with many citing anger at Farage's handling of the matter. Last week Farage said the allegations were "having zero effect" and "maybe solidifying our core support". Reform's deputy leader, Richard Tice, has called the accusers liars. Twenty-six school contemporaries have signed an open letter demanding an apology, and 11 Holocaust survivors have signed a separate letter asking Farage to tell the truth.
Adrian Woods, 62, a translator who attended Dulwich for sixth form, said he witnessed Farage harassing fellow pupil Peter Ettedgui, now an award-winning director, about being Jewish. Woods recalled Ettedgui responding by launching into Shylock's "if you prick us, do we not bleed?" monologue. "I was present when Nigel was harassing [Ettedgui] about being a Jew," Woods said. "This happened a few times, I witnessed this a few times."
