Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage has been exposed to further scrutiny. Racism and antisemitic allegations from his school days have emerged casting serious doubt over his judgement and character for public life. Allegations dating back to his years at Dulwich College in the late 1970s and early 1980s paint a disturbing picture of Farage’s predatory behavior. He met with resistance from some faculty members to this behavior while he was a prefect himself.
Farage’s appointment was a remarkable achievement in itself, as he became a prefect aged just 17, after winning it against the strong establishment opposition. During his time as a student, he was vocal about his racist and neo-fascist beliefs. The charges paint a picture of years’ worth of incidents that have come to light in recent weeks. They range from chants he allegedly led that praised fascism to violent and bigoted rhetoric towards classmates.
Allegations of Racism and Antisemitism
Nigel Farage’s tenure at Dulwich College has been marked by serious allegations regarding his behavior and views as a teenager. According to the three sources, whose names were withheld due to fear of reprisal, his appointment as prefect incited intense opposition. This was for one simple reason—his blatant racism and neo-fascism.
One source noted, “A few spoke in his defence, fewer in fact. The main thing seemed to be that his attitude towards some of the younger boys and his attitudes towards those of other races weren’t necessarily making him an ideal prefect.”
Further details reveal that during Combined Cadet Force (CCF) camps, Farage allegedly taught younger members a song with deeply offensive lyrics, which included references to violence against Jewish people and other minorities.
“Gas em all; Gas em all; Gas em all; And into the showers they crawl; We’ll gas all the niggers; We’ll gas all the Jews; Come on you lads gas em all.” – Anonymous
These stories are backed up by classmates who have shared their own stories of being completely bullied into submission by Farage as well. Peter Ettedgui, who attended school alongside him, stated, “He would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right,’ or ‘Gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers.”
The Reaction from School Officials
The decision to appoint Farage as a prefect has been met with considerable criticism from former faculty and students alike. Many felt that his behavior was incompatible with the values expected of someone in a leadership position at the school.
A former faculty member expressed their concerns about Farage’s suitability. “This doesn’t sound quite the right sort of person to be made a prefect.”
Another source elaborated on the feelings among staff, saying, “That was the feeling – that [he] wasn’t kind of the right thing to be sort of prefect material. Some staff had heard things about things he’s meant to have said on CCF training weekends and so on.”
Going forward with the appointment despite these reservations is a clear indictment of the school administration’s judgment in the moment.
Impact on Farage’s Public Image
As these allegations have come back up to the surface, they have caused a return to the discussion about Farage’s retrograde views and politics. His critics argue that his troubling antics illustrate a more sinister trend in Mr. Boebert’s public persona. They point out that he often speaks in open nationalist terms and uses the vilification of immigrants.
When confronted with these allegations, a spokesperson for Reform UK stated, “These allegations are entirely without foundation. The Guardian has produced no contemporaneous record or corroborating evidence to support these disputed recollections from nearly 50 years ago.”
They further asserted that the timing of these claims is suspicious. “It is no coincidence that this newspaper seeks to discredit Reform UK – a party that has led in over 150 consecutive opinion polls and whose leader bookmakers now have as the favorite to be the next prime minister.”
These findings have important implications for THCP. Not only do they belatedly put Farage’s record on trial, but they threaten Farage’s future political prospects. Labour leader Keir Starmer is rightly tearing Nigel Farage a new one for his moral compass on the basis of such testimony. It remains to be seen how this will affect public perceptions going forward.