Fresh allegations about Nigel Farage's behaviour during his schooldays have surfaced, painting a troubling picture of the Reform UK leader's formative years. The claims emerge as Farage continues to exert significant influence over Britain's political landscape and immigration debate.
The School Years: A Pattern of Behaviour
According to fellow students who spoke with the Guardian, Farage allegedly used racist insults against other pupils during his time at Dulwich College between 1975 and 1982. More disturbingly, he reportedly sang a song containing the lyrics "Gas 'em all" - a deeply offensive reference to Holocaust atrocities.
Musa Okwonga, writing from his own experience at Eton several decades later, notes that such attitudes were not uncommon within England's elite private schools. He recalls one pupil boasting about his great-grandfather being a slave driver following a disagreement, while Jewish students frequently faced antisemitic slurs.
"When I later saw Old Etonian Boris Johnson referring to black people as 'piccaninnies' with 'watermelon smiles', I thought back to the peers of mine who would erupt into rants filled with racist stereotypes," Okwonga writes.
From Schoolyard to Political Arena
The more concerning aspect, according to observers, is how these early behaviours appear consistent with Farage's subsequent political career. The Reform UK leader has become known for his hardline stance on immigration and close associations with far-right groups across Europe.
Farage recently appeared at a press conference in London alongside Zia Yusuf, head of government efficiency for Reform UK, on 18 November 2025. The event underscored his continuing influence over British politics, particularly on immigration matters.
Okwonga argues that rather than representing a departure from his schooldays persona, Farage's political career demonstrates a continuation of earlier attitudes. "He inspired the country on a tide of xenophobia to leave the EU," he notes, adding that many Britons now regret or outright hate the Brexit decision.
The Wider Impact and Political Climate
The consequences of this political direction are becoming increasingly apparent. The Guardian reports that record numbers of overseas-trained doctors are quitting the UK, with hostility towards migrants blamed for the exodus. This creates huge workforce gaps within the NHS at a time when healthcare services are already under immense pressure.
Meanwhile, Farage's visit to Eton College saw students cheering his "worst comments on migrants and Covid," while visiting girls were subjected to racial slurs and misogynistic comments. The school issued an apology for the "totally unacceptable" behaviour, though critics question what outcome they expected when inviting such a controversial figure.
Okwonga describes Farage as a "generational talent" when it comes to stoking hatred, comparing him to a Pied Piper leading followers toward an exhilarating but potentially destructive future.
The current political and media environment appears particularly fertile ground for such figures. With algorithms amplifying extreme content and economic inequalities worsened by Brexit, many voters increasingly blame immigrants for "trying to steal more of a shrinking pie."
As Okwonga concludes, Farage's ultimate message seems to be "open borders for the super-rich, closed borders for everyone else" - a position that may gain traction as his true political stance becomes clearer to the British public.
