Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who allege the Reform UK leader subjected them to racial abuse while at Dulwich College. During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Starmer described Farage's explanations as 'unconvincing to say the least'.
The Guardian reported last week that Peter Ettedgui, an Emmy- and Bafta-winning director, claimed a 13-year-old Farage would sidle up to him and say 'Hitler was right' or 'gas them', sometimes adding a hiss to simulate gas chambers. Starmer said: 'If a young Jewish student was hissed at to mimic the sound of a gas chamber, they would find it upsetting. He may want to forget that. They won't. He should seek those people out and go and apologise to them.'
Farage initially denied the allegations through aides, but later told broadcasters he had no 'intent' to cause hurt. In a subsequent statement, he categorically denied saying the reported remarks, and told GB News: 'I absolutely deny the charges.' At a press conference on Wednesday, he said: 'One person says they were hurt, and if they feel they were hurt, then I'm genuinely sorry,' while maintaining he never would have said such things directly to anyone.
Ettedgui welcomed Starmer's support, saying: 'I hugely appreciate the prime minister's supportive words, as I am sure will the many others who suffered racist abuse from Farage at school.' He added: 'I'm really not sure which is the more offensive: the schoolboy Farage's approving references to Jews going to the gas chambers, or the adult Farage gaslighting those of us who have chosen to speak up.'
The Guardian has spoken to about 20 people who witnessed or experienced racist behaviour from Farage, including several who corroborated Ettedgui's account. Farage has repeatedly denied the claims, describing Ettedgui's recollections as 'simply wrong'.
