Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has launched a fierce defence of his party leader, Nigel Farage, against historical allegations of racism, only to receive no reciprocal support from the man he sought to protect.
Tice's Unwavering Defence on National Radio
During a tense interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme with presenter Emma Barnett, Richard Tice was questioned about long-standing claims regarding Farage's behaviour while a pupil at Dulwich College. Barnett referenced allegations from around 20 former fellow pupils who claimed they heard Farage make jokes about Hitler and gas chambers, and remarks about black students.
Tice's response was unequivocal. He dismissed the accounts as "absolute made-up twaddle" and asserted that the former pupils were "lying through their teeth just to discredit him." When Barnett pressed him to confirm he was calling the individuals liars, Tice replied "Yes."
This stance is particularly notable given that Tice never attended school with Farage and did not meet him until much later in life. He based his certainty on Farage's own previous statements, where the Reform leader admitted he may have said offensive things unintentionally, categorising them as non-racist 'banter'.
Farage's Notable Silence and Counter-Attack
Later the same day, at a hastily arranged press conference, Nigel Farage was directly asked if he supported Tice's decision to label his school accusers as liars. Farage noticeably declined to endorse his deputy's comments, choosing instead to launch a broadside against the BBC and Emma Barnett.
Farage labelled Barnett's line of questioning as "disgraceful" and "despicable," accusing the BBC of double standards. He cited historical comedy shows like 'The Black and White Minstrel Show' and 'Till Death Us Do Part' as evidence of the corporation's own problematic past, seemingly suggesting that two wrongs make a right.
He concluded by producing a letter from another former pupil which praised him as "one hell of a funny guy" who never said anything nasty. The contrasting responses left Tice isolated in his defence, potentially exposed to legal repercussions for his unequivocal accusations of lying.
A One-Sided Political Partnership
The incident lays bare the dynamics of the relationship between the two Reform figures. Tice, who was elbowed aside as party leader when Farage decided to return to frontline politics before the last election, remains fiercely loyal. He accepted a demotion to deputy leader and is often seen vying for Farage's approval.
Observers describe Tice's position as precarious, with Farage reportedly playing him off against other allies like Zia Yusuf for a potential shadow chancellor role. Farage's failure to back Tice's aggressive defence suggests he views his deputy as expendable, or at least prefers not to associate himself legally with the specific claim that two dozen individuals are liars.
The interview began with a discussion on the government's cancellation of four inaugural mayoral elections until 2028, which Tice denounced as a "denial of democracy" and a plot to stop Reform. This conspiracy claim set the stage for the more explosive exchange about Farage's past.
For Richard Tice, the episode represents a high-risk defence that yielded no reward, underscoring his vulnerable position within a party dominated by Nigel Farage's persona and ambitions.
