A group of Holocaust survivors has called on Nigel Farage to apologise for alleged antisemitic comments he made as a schoolboy at Dulwich College. In an open letter to the Reform UK leader, the survivors stated that praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not 'banter' and demanded he tell the truth about his past behaviour.
The letter, signed by 11 survivors including Hedi Argent, who lost 27 family members in the Holocaust, and Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen, asks Farage directly whether he said 'Hitler was right' and 'gas them' to Jewish classmates. They also question if he is accusing the 20 former pupils and teachers who have come forward of lying.
The survivors' intervention follows an investigation by the Guardian which reported that 28 former pupils and teachers witnessed racist or antisemitic behaviour by Farage at Dulwich College. Among them is Bafta and Emmy-winning director Peter Ettedgui, who claims Farage would say 'Hitler was right' and mimic gas chamber sounds. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has dismissed the testimony as 'made-up twaddle'.
Other former pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds have also come forward, including Cyrus Oshidar, who alleges Farage called him a 'Paki', and another student of Asian heritage who says Farage used 'Enoch Powell was right' as racial intimidation. The survivors concluded their letter by stating that those who hope to lead the country should never divide people by race or religion, and urged Farage to take moral responsibility.
