‘Never in a hurtful or insulting way’: Nigel Farage responds to schoolboy racism claims
Nigel Farage has denied “directly racially abusing” fellow students while he was a student at Dulwich College in London.
While questioned over allegations he used racist and antisemitic language to schoolmates, the Reform UK leader told ITV he never made racist comments “in a hurtful or derogatory way” or “deliberately”.
Comes after reports Guard More than a dozen boys at Dulwich College have claimed he made racist and anti-Semitic comments while at the school. A former classmate, Bafta and Emmy-winning director Peter Ettedgui, 61, claimed Mr Farage told him “Hitler was right” and “Gas them”, adding a long hiss to imitate the sound of gas showers.
During an interview with ITV, Mr Farage was asked whether he had racially abused other students during his time at the university. “No. By the way, that was 49 years ago,” he replied. “Have I ever tried to take it out on anyone based on where they came from? No.”
Asked if he had categorically denied the allegations, Farage said: “I would never do this in a hurtful or derogatory way.”
He added: “I’ve just hit puberty. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can’t. Have I ever been part of an extremist organization or been subjected to direct, unpleasant personal abuse, actual abuse on that basis? No.”
The interviewer later suggested Mr Farage’s response was “very cautious”; The reform leader repeated that he did not “deliberately” racially abuse fellow students.
“I have never been directly racially abusive towards anyone, no,” he said. “Have I ever misspoke in my life, from when I was a child to my teenage years? Probably.”
He added that the allegations had a “strong political element.”
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer last week called on Mr Farage to explain himself over the allegations.
A spokesman for the Reform England leader said he would not press charges over the allegations “at this stage” but said “potentially yes” when asked if that was an option being kept open.
Mr Farage’s spokesman said: “These allegations go back 45 years and I think at any time – when Nigel was leader of UKIP, at the 2010 general election, at the 2015 general election, during Brexit, perhaps at the 2019 general election – you would have to ask yourself why this had not been raised before.”
He added: “Nigel it’s very clear, there is no primary evidence.”
Mr Farage was ‘probably misbehaving’ at school but denies allegations Guardsaid the spokesman.
