Holocaust Survivors Demand Farage Address Antisemitism Allegations
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A group of Holocaust survivors is calling on Nigel Farage to fully address and apologize for alleged antisemitic remarks made during his time as a student at Dulwich College. The demand comes amid growing scrutiny of the Reform UK leader following reports of racist and antisemitic behaviour during his school years.
The escalating controversy centers on allegations first reported by The Guardian two weeks ago, prompting a wave of former classmates and teachers to come forward with accounts of racist and antisemitic behavior.
Survivors’ Powerful Plea
in a letter to Farage, the 11 survivors emphasized the profound danger of hateful rhetoric, drawing from their own lived experiences. “As Holocaust survivors, we understand the danger of hateful words – because we have seen where such words lead,” they wrote. “Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter.Not in a playground. Not anywhere.”
The survivors directly questioned Farage about specific allegations, asking: “Did you say ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘gas them,’ mimicking gas chambers? Did you subject your classmates to antisemitic abuse?” They urged him to choose “honesty, reflection, and commitment to truth” in his response.
Among the signatories is Hedi Argent, who lost 27 family members in the Holocaust. Simon Winston was held in a ghetto before escaping and spending the remainder of the war in hiding. Anita Lasker-Wallfisch endured nearly a year at Auschwitz-Birkenau before being transferred to Bergen-Belsen and ultimately liberated by British forces in April 1945. The other signatories are Janine Webber, Edith Jayne, Helen Aronson, Ruth Barnett, John Fieldsend, Susan pollack, Hanneke Dye and Agnes Kaposi.
Dismissal of Testimony and Emerging Accounts
The call for accountability follows comments made by richard Tice, Reform UK’s deputy leader, who dismissed the testimony of over two dozen individuals as “made-up twaddle.” This dismissal has further fueled the controversy and prompted more former pupils to share their experiences.
To date, 28 former pupils and teachers have come forward alleging witnessing racist or antisemitic behavior by Farage at Dulwich College. Peter Ettedgui, a bafta and Emmy-winning director, has stated that Farage, as a teenager, would repeatedly tell him “Hitler was right” and “gas them,” often accompanied by a hissing sound intended to mimic gas chambers. Eight other contemporaries have corroborated Ettedgui’s account, with most providing statements on the record.
A recent account from Nick Hearn,a banker,supports the claims of abuse directed at Ettedgui,urging Farage to “come clean.”
Questioning Credibility and Facing Accusations of Racial Abuse
Tice has publicly questioned the credibility of Ettedgui and the other former pupils, alleging they have a “political axe to grind.” the survivors, in their letter, directly challenged Farage’s denial of abusing ettedgui, asking if he was implying that the 20 former classmates and teachers were lying.
Beyond the allegations concerning Ettedgui, other former pupils from minority ethnic backgrounds have accused Farage of direct racial abuse. Cyrus Oshidar alleges Farage repeatedly called him a “Paki,” dismissing claims that Farage did not intend to cause harm as “rubbish.” Another student of Asian heritage, a contemporary of Farage, described him as openly racist, claiming he would say “Enoch Powell was right” as a form of “racial intimidation.”
The survivors concluded their letter with a stark warning: “Those who hope to lead our country should never divide people by race or religion. Antisemitic hatred must never be normalised. This moment is about moral obligation. The choice is yours, Mr Farage.”
reform UK has been approached for comment.
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