Nigel Farage's racism denials are dishonest, says ex-classmate

Nigel Farage's racism denials are dishonest, says ex-classmate

A former schoolmate of Nigel Farage, who is Jewish, has accused the Reform UK leader of being “fundamentally dishonest” in denying allegations that he was racist during their teenage years. Peter Ettedgui told the BBC that while they attended Dulwich College in London, Farage repeatedly made antisemitic remarks, including saying “Hitler was right” and urging to “gas them.” These accusations contradict Farage’s recent claim that he “never directly racially abused anybody,” as highlighted by several former pupils.

Farage has firmly dismissed these accounts, stating: “I can categorically say that the stories being told about me from 50 years ago are not true.” He acknowledged that he may have “misspoken” in his youth but denied targeting anyone with racial abuse. When pressed on the veracity of the claims, Farage accused the accusers of having “perfect recollection” only after nearly five decades and suggested the allegations had a “strong political element.” He later insisted: “No, they are not telling the truth.” Responding to these denials, Ettedgui expressed frustration and anger, emphasizing Farage’s influence on national politics and labeling his statements as dishonest.

More than a dozen former students from the late 1970s and early 1980s have come forward supporting Ettedgui’s accounts of Farage’s racist conduct. Ettedgui recalled with vivid clarity the repeated verbal attacks he endured, describing the abuse as far more virulent than typical schoolyard antisemitism of the time. He contended that Farage was already well-informed about history and politics as a teenager, refuting Farage’s description of himself as a “child” during these incidents. Ettedgui also denied any coordinated political motivation behind the accusations, stating that he and the others involved had not communicated regarding their testimonies and that his decision to speak out was driven by deeply personal reasons.

The first public allegations regarding Farage’s alleged racist behaviour as a teenager surfaced 13 years ago, but the recent renewed scrutiny followed The Guardian’s investigative reports. Reform UK has consistently rejected these claims as “entirely without foundation.” Farage released a statement stressing his denial and pointing out that he has been in the public eye for over 30 years without previous accusations emerging. He accused The Guardian of attempting to smear those discussing immigration and asserted that he has actively opposed far-right extremism throughout his career. While some former Dulwich pupils expressed skepticism about the racism accusations, others, including those who personally witnessed Farage targeting Ettedgui, stood firmly by their recollections, emphasizing the clarity and impact of their memories despite the passage of time

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More