Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has dismissed allegations of racist and antisemitic bullying during his time at Dulwich College as “complete made-up fantasies”, claiming his accusers have “very obvious political motivation”. The comments came during a press conference in central London on Wednesday, where he faced questions about the claims first reported by the Guardian.
More than 30 people have spoken to the Guardian as part of an investigation, with multiple accounts of racism including from Peter Ettedgui, an Emmy- and Bafta-winning director, who recalled Farage growling “Hitler was right” or “Gas them” at him when they were at school. Farage has previously denied directly targeting anyone with racist or antisemitic abuse, and his responses have shifted over time. When asked why he had not apologised, he said: “I don’t apologise for things that are complete made-up fantasies.”
Farage has been asked to apologise in a letter signed by 26 of his school contemporaries, and last month a former Dulwich teacher spoke out, saying: “Of course he abused pupils.” When challenged in a broadcast interview in November, Farage said he would “never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way” and that it was “49 years ago”.
At the same press conference, Farage addressed comments by Reform mayoral candidate Chris Parry, who suggested London-born David Lammy should “go home” to the Caribbean. Farage said Parry’s remarks were “over the top” and that he should apologise. Laila Cunningham, announced as Reform’s London mayoral candidate for 2028, said the problem in London was “not about diversity” but that in some parts immigration was “too much” and “they dominate”.
Farage also faced criticism for boycotting Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday to appear on Times Radio, saying it was “more worthwhile than sitting in the House of Commons being abused”. Labour MPs Michael Shanks and Chris Bryant criticised his absence, with Bryant writing: “Not really an mp at all.”
