Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces serious allegations of racist and antisemitic behaviour during his school years, according to claims from former classmates published by The Guardian. The Clacton MP, whose party leads in opinion polls making him a potential future prime minister, has emphatically denied the accusations.
Detailed Accounts from Former Pupils
Multiple former pupils from Dulwich College in south London have come forward with specific allegations about Mr Farage's conduct as a teenager. Peter Ettedgui, now an award-winning director and producer, provided detailed accounts of antisemitic harassment when both were 13 years old.
"He would sidle up to me and growl: 'Hitler was right,' or 'Gas them,' sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers," Mr Ettedgui told The Guardian. He added that he wasn't Farage's only target, recalling hearing him use racial slurs including 'P***' and 'W**' while urging students of overseas heritage to 'go home'.
Another Jewish former pupil, Professor Dave Edmonds, 61, confirmed he had strong memories of Mr Farage using racial slurs for people of Afro-Caribbean and south Asian origin. He noted that while he didn't receive direct antisemitic remarks himself, Farage made "outrageous comments about the war" and seemed "generally obsessed, as he is now, with the erosion of Britishness".
Reform UK's Strong Denial
In response to these allegations, Reform UK has issued a robust defence of its leader. A party spokesperson stated: "These allegations are entirely without foundation." The spokesperson questioned the timing of the revelations, noting the absence of contemporaneous records or corroborating evidence for events alleged to have occurred nearly 50 years ago.
The party suggested political motivation behind the claims, stating: "It is no coincidence that this newspaper seeks to discredit Reform UK, a party that has led in over 150 consecutive opinion polls and whose leader bookmakers now have as the favourite to be the next prime minister."
Mr Farage himself has questioned the public interest in reporting historic allegations and suggested The Guardian was attempting to smear him and his party. The allegations emerge as Reform UK maintains a strong position in polling ahead of the next general election.
Context and Political Implications
The timing of these allegations is particularly significant given Reform UK's current standing in opinion polls. Some former classmates told The Guardian they only remembered Mr Farage as being bumptious, rude, provocative and enjoying being the centre of attention, while insisting they didn't recall him using racist language.
There is no evidence that Mr Farage has ever been a member of far-right organisations, nor is there any suggestion that he currently holds the views ascribed to him as a schoolboy. However, the detailed accounts from multiple sources have raised questions about his past behaviour as he positions himself as a potential future prime minister.
Reform UK has indicated it expects further "cynical attempts to smear Reform and mislead the public to intensify further as we move closer to the next election," suggesting this is merely the beginning of a politically motivated campaign against their leader.
