Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has publicly clashed with a journalist who questioned him about resurfaced allegations of racist behaviour during his school years, firmly denying any wrongdoing and suggesting political motivations are behind the claims.
The Press Conference Confrontation
During a tense exchange at a Reform UK press conference, Farage snapped at a reporter pressing him on the allegations, stating "I think we've gone quite a long way towards answering all this, don't you?" The incident marked a departure from his usual approach of fielding numerous questions, with this session limited to just ten inquiries that notably excluded the Guardian.
Farage repeated his assertion that the allegations have been concocted because people dislike his politics, while also addressing specific claims from his school days at Dulwich College in the 1970s.
Examining Farage's Specific Denials
Farage directly addressed the account of film director Peter Ettedgui, describing him as the "one person that said I directly abused him." He expressed regret if Ettedgui felt hurt but firmly stated: "I never, ever, ever would have said or done anything like that directly to a human being. Absolutely not."
However, investigation reveals that Ettedgui is actually one of several contemporaries from ethnic minority backgrounds who have come forward with accounts of being targeted by Farage. Ettedgui, who is Jewish, has described how Farage 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."
Another former pupil, Cyrus Oshidar, has stated that Farage repeatedly called him a "Paki." Additional accounts include a former pupil from an ethnic minority background who told the Guardian that Farage approached him on three occasions, asking where he was from and pointing away while saying: "That's the way back."
Multiple Witnesses Contradict Farage's Account
Contrary to Farage's suggestion that the allegation came solely from Ettedgui himself, seven other contemporaries have corroborated accounts of antisemitic abuse directed at Ettedgui.
Stefan Benarroch described how "Farage made his life a fucking nightmare," noting that Jewish students were particularly identifiable because they attended services in the science labs. Rickard Berg recalled hearing Farage singing "Gas 'em all" to Ettedgui, while Anthony Butler remembered "him relentlessly hectoring and bullying Ettedgui with shouts of 'stupid yid' in the playground."
Further accounts come from Jean-Pierre Lihou, who described Farage using the German word "Jude" in a menacing manner; former teacher Bob Jope; and Martin Rosell, who witnessed Farage making comments about "the Jewish guy" in their class.
The Political Motivation Claim Under Scrutiny
Farage has suggested that many of the more than twenty people making claims about his behaviour did so for political reasons, noting that "they have different political views to me."
Analysis reveals that the overwhelming majority of contemporaries who spoke to the Guardian are not active in party politics. While some acknowledge disagreeing with Farage's political stance, they maintain they came forward specifically because of his denials about past behaviour and their expectation that he should show contrition.
The exception is Martin Rosell, who chairs the Liberal Democrats in Salisbury - a fact the Guardian states was disclosed to Farage prior to publication. Farage has cited Roger Gough, a former Conservative leader of Kent County Council, though Gough was not among those who provided accounts of racist behaviour to the Guardian.
Mounting Pressure and Public Scrutiny
The emerging pattern of multiple, consistent accounts from different individuals presents a significant challenge to Farage's narrative that the allegations are politically motivated or limited to isolated incidents. The consistency across witness statements, particularly regarding the targeting of Ettedgui, suggests a pattern of behaviour that contradicts Farage's blanket denials.
As the Reform UK leader continues his political campaigning, these allegations from his schooldays continue to generate controversy and raise questions about accountability for past behaviour, even as Farage maintains his position that the claims are exaggerated or fabricated for political purposes.
