Farage denies school racism claims

Nigel Farage has publicly addressed allegations of racism and antisemitism dating back to his school years, nearly a week after former classmates accused him of repeated offensive behaviour.

According to reports, about 20 individuals who attended Dulwich College with Farage described incidents of racial abuse, antisemitic remarks and targeted harassment during his teens.

Farage’s team had initially issued a categorical denial, dismissing the claims as “without foundation”.

However, in a broadcast interview on Monday, the Reform UK leader offered a more qualified response. When asked whether he racially abused fellow pupils, Farage replied: “No … Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where they’re from? No.”

He added: “I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way … Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can’t.” At one point, he said he had never abused anyone “with intent” and insisted he had “never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.”

The allegations include claims that Farage sang a “Gas ’em all” song referring to the killing of Jewish, Black and Asian people, and that he targeted minority ethnic children with taunts.

Director Peter Ettedgui, one of the accusers, said the leader would approach him as a young teenager and mutter Hitler was right.

Spokesperson to the Reform UK leader questioned the timing of the allegations, noting they date back decades and had not surfaced during previous election cycles.

Critics, accused Farage of evasion. Labour peer Mike Katz said the UK leader’s comments suggested he believed “you can racially abuse people without it being hurtful,” calling him unfit for office.

Liberal Democrat president-elect Josh Babarinde added that Farage’s refusal to directly deny the remarks showed “the mask has slipped”.

Recall that Farage had been alleged to be involve in racism earlier by Starmer but Farage maintains there is “no primary evidence” supporting the claims.