Fresh Allegations Surface About Farage's School Behaviour
Nigel Farage is confronting serious new allegations about his conduct during his schooldays, with former classmates claiming the Reform UK leader engaged in openly racist and antisemitic behaviour while attending Dulwich College in south-east London.
Jean-Pierre Lihou, who described himself as a former friend of Farage, has come forward with detailed accounts of what he witnessed during their time together at the prestigious independent school.
'Gas Them All': Disturbing Schoolyard Chants
Lihou recalled that Farage would stomp around the playground chanting 'Oswald Mosley', the 1930s leader of the British Union of Fascists, and made repeated references to Hitler. 'Farage used to say things like 'Hitler was right' and 'gas em',' Lihou stated in his testimony.
Most disturbingly, Lihou remembered a racist song Farage allegedly sang, based on George Formby's 'Bless Them All'. The lyrics included: 'Gas em all, gas em all, into the chambers they crawl. We'll gas all the Paks, and we'll gas all the Yids, and we'll gas all the coons and all their fucking kids.'
Targeting Jewish Classmates
Another former pupil, Bafta and Emmy award-winning director Peter Ettedgui, came forward with similar allegations. Ettedgui claimed that Farage would 'sidle up to me and growl: 'Hitler was right'' or 'Gas them,' sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of gas showers.
Lihou corroborated these accounts, explaining that Farage would use the German word for Jew - 'Jude' - spoken with a menacing long 'u' in the style of 1930s Germany when addressing Ettedgui. 'It's pretty awful,' Lihou commented, noting that the remarks would cause Ettedgui to become quiet and withdrawn.
Martin Rosell, another contemporary who now chairs the Liberal Democrats in Salisbury, also recalled Farage making comments to Ettedgui, including whispering 'Jew' and suggesting 'they missed you'.
Farage's Response and Political Context
The Guardian's investigation gathered testimony from more than a dozen contemporaries at Dulwich College, though not every former pupil and teacher recalled Farage making racist remarks.
Farage has consistently denied these allegations, describing them as 'entirely without foundation' and a 'smear'. In 2013, he admitted to saying 'ridiculous things' during his school years but claimed they were 'not necessarily racist things'.
When Lihou previously wrote an anonymous open letter in 2019 referencing the Mosley chants and racist songs, Farage responded by describing the period as 'highly politically charged' with 'the rise of Thatcherism to the Brixton riots just down the road'.
Lihou explained his decision to publicly identify himself now, stating: 'I am talking today because I am worried.' He expressed concern about Farage's political success and charismatic appeal, suggesting the Reform leader is 'enabling people to be basically openly racist'.
With Farage currently leading in polls and potentially heading toward Downing Street, these school-era allegations take on renewed significance in British politics.
