Farage repeatedly shouts ‘Bernard Manning’ at journalists amid racism allegations

Nigel Farage repeatedly shouted the name of controversial comedian Bernard Manning in a bizarre rant to reporters when asked about allegations he racially abused a schoolmate.

The Reform UK leader also criticized the BBC for blackface and homophobia, accusing the broadcaster of “double standards”, saying the BBC broadcast it repeatedly in the 1970s.

It comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a fresh attack on the Reform UK leader, accusing him of being “toxic and divisive” during a trip to Scotland.

The row erupted after Reform MP Richard Tice was asked on the BBC about allegations about Farage’s school days. Today program early Thursday.

Answering a question about whether his former schoolmate lied at the press conference, Mr Farage said: Today program reporter Emma Barnett “low marks”.

He later accused the broadcaster of “double standards and hypocrisy” over television programs such as: Black and White Minstrel ShowIt has been criticized for its “blackface” and the appearance of Mr. Manning.

Mr Farage said: “I cannot stand the BBC’s double standards over what I said 49 years ago and the allegations you published in mainstream content.

“So I want an apology from the BBC for almost everything you did during the 1970s and 80s.”

He then shouted the name “Bernard Manning” at a journalist from ITV who asked a similar question.

The comedian, who describes himself as the king of offensive jokes, has repeatedly come under fire for the content of his act.

He was filmed secretly making racist jokes at a police charity dinner in the 1990s and was criticized by then prime minister John Major. One Labor MP even asked the attorney general to consider charging the comedian with inciting racial hatred over his stream of racist insults and jokes.

Mr Farage was accused of “persistent” racist abuse by a school contemporary who denied the Reform UK leader’s claims it was a “joke”.

Peter Ettedgui, whose Jewish grandparents fled Nazi Germany, claimed that when the pair attended Dulwich College in the late 1970s, Mr Farage grumbled “Hitler was right”, hissed “gas them” and told him to “go to the gas chambers”.

He is among more than a dozen former students of the south London school who have accused Mr Farage of making anti-Semitic and racist remarks in allegations first reported in 2014. Guard.

The Reform UK leader appeared to leave open the possibility that he may have made “unintentional” racist remarks in his first interview since the allegations were published, telling ITV: “I would never, ever do this in a hurtful or derogatory way.” He also admitted to “joking around on the playground.”

But he later “categorically” denied making such comments in a prepared statement and suggested the allegations were politically motivated.

The Conservatives said the press conference showed “the Reformation’s one-man band is once again in chaos”.

Labor leader Anna Turley said: “Nigel Farage has failed to tell his story clearly. It really shouldn’t be this hard to tell whether he has racially abused people in the past.”

He said he “must apologize to the victims of his allegedly horrific remarks. He wants to trash our reform politics. They are absolutely unfit for high office.”

Meanwhile, on a trip to Scotland, Sir Keir responded to Nigel Farage’s comments about the number of English-speaking schoolchildren, describing him as “toxic” and “divisive”.

He said: “He is a disgrace. He is a toxic, divisive disgrace. All he wants to do is tear communities apart. Diversity and compassion are celebrated in Glasgow. It’s not just part of Glasgow, it’s part of Scotland.”

“I am proud that this is part of Scotland and as UK Prime Minister I want to serve every community in Scotland.

“I don’t go around, I don’t pick and I don’t try to divide. I think it’s particularly bad that he’s going right into kids to start this division. All he’s interested in is the politics of grievance and the politics of division and he’s doing it to distract himself because what he doesn’t want to be asked about are comments he’s made in the past for which he can’t give a proper explanation.”

A Reform source told The Independent the prime minister was “desperate, failed at the ballot box and furious as a result of his failures in office”.