Farage Faces Calls to Apologize for Alleged Teenage Racism as Former Schoolmates Detail Disturbing Behavior
A growing chorus of former Dulwich College students and staff are demanding an apology from Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, following accusations of racist, antisemitic, and fascist behavior during his school years. A newly released open letter, signed by 26 individuals, details alleged incidents and condemns Farage’s denial of responsibility, escalating a controversy that threatens to derail his political ambitions.
The letter, a direct challenge to Farage’s leadership, accuses him of refusing to acknowledge his past conduct at the prestigious south London school. Signatories criticize his claims that the allegations are politically motivated, stating that his denials have caused “dismay and anger” and compelled them to come forward.
“The accusation … is false,” the letter states, directly responding to Farage’s repeated denials. However, the signatories insist that a public recognition of the events is necessary, arguing that those seeking high office “need to own their past and demonstrate honesty.”
The accusations extend beyond general claims of prejudice. Peter Ettedgui, a Bafta- and Emmy-winning director who is Jewish, alleges that a teenage Farage would sidle up to him and say “Hitler was right” and “gas them,” accompanied by a chilling hiss mimicking the sound of gas chambers. Other witnesses claim Farage engaged in persistently racist and antisemitic behavior from the age of 13 to 18.
Yinka Bankole, whose parents immigrated to the UK from Nigeria in the 1950s, alleges that Farage, then 17, repeatedly told him, as a child of nine and ten, to “go back.” Further accounts describe Farage singing songs about gassing minority ethnic people, chanting the name of British fascist leader Oswald Mosley, and expressing discontent over the number of Patel students at Dulwich. One individual claims Farage burned a copy of the school roll in 1980 after observing a higher number of Patels than Smiths.
Reform UK has dismissed the allegations as a “naked attempt to discredit” Farage and the party, labeling them “50-year-old smears” orchestrated by the “leftwing media and deeply unpopular Labour party.” However, the signatories to the open letter vehemently reject this characterization.
“Your response to our testimony has been in some respects more serious than the original offences,” the letter asserts. They emphasize that their motivation is not political, highlighting that they come from diverse professional backgrounds and political viewpoints, with many having had no contact since leaving Dulwich. They also point to previous instances where individuals have come forward with similar allegations, including reports in Channel 4 News (2013), El País (2016), The Independent (2019), and a 2022 biography by Michael Crick.
Farage has questioned the reliability of memories after so many years, and recently read out a letter from a former pupil who claimed he was offensive but not racist. The signatories argue this dismissal fails to recognize the lasting impact of his behavior. “Abusive and hurtful memories stick, and we have never forgotten,” they write, emphasizing the consistency of their accounts.
The letter directly calls on Farage to “recognise that these events happened; apologise for them; [and] make it clear you have renounced the racist, antisemitic and fascist views you expressed at Dulwich.”
The accusations raise serious questions about Farage’s past and the standards expected of political leaders. While the debate continues, the collective voice of these former students and staff presents a significant challenge to his public image and political future.
Signed (in alphabetical order, by first name)
Dr Andrew Field (1976-84)
Bill Wood (1976-84)
Chris Jacob (1977-82)
David Edmonds (1973-82)
Graham Noble (1974-82)
Jean-Pierre Lihou (1977-82)
Jez Nelson (1975-80)
Luke Gray (1977-81)
Mark Bridges (1974-82)
Mark Haward (1976-82)
Christopher Kibble (1975-82)
Martin Rosell (1977-80)
Nick Cannon (1973-82)
Nick Gordon Brown (1975-82)
Peter Ettedgui (1977-82)
Rickard Berg (1976-82)
Richard Flowers (1975-82)
Stefan Benarroch (1979-83)
Tim France (1973-82)
Yinka Bankole (1980-81)
Former Pupil (1975-82)
Former Pupil (1977-82)
Former Pupil (1977-83)
Former Asian Pupil (1977-85)
Former Pupil (1979-84)
Former Teacher (1979-85)
