Farage must explain reports of racist comments, says PM

"Nigel Farage must explain reports of racist comments allegedly made by the Reform UK leader when he was a schoolboy, the prime minster has said. Farage made anti-semitic jibes at a fellow pupil at Dulwich College and taught younger pupils racist songs, according to The Guardian. The Reform leader denies making any of the comments and actions attributed to him by former pupils at the South London school in the 1970s. Sir Keir Starmer called on Farage for an "explanation of the stories", at Prime Minister's Questions. Speaking afterwards, the PM's press secretary said: "These are disturbing allegations and it is vital that Nigel Farage urgently explains himself." Among the allegations in the Guardian are that Farage joked about gas chambers and put another pupil in detention, when he was a prefect, for the colour of their skin."

"My grandparents had escaped from Nazi Germany, and had always talked with deep gratitude about how they felt welcome in the UK. "I'd never experienced antisemitism growing up, so the first time that this vicious verbal abuse came out of Farage's mouth was deeply shocking." Another former pupil, who is not named, told The Guardian Farage had taught younger members of the Combined Cadet Force at Dulwich racist football terrace song "Gas Em All"."

"In a statement, Reform UK said: "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." Speaking to reporters after PMQs, a Reform spokesman said Farage denied making the comments that have been attributed to him. He added that the Reform leader had no plans to sue The Guardian for defamation "at this stage"."

Former pupils allege Nigel Farage made antisemitic jibes, joked about gas chambers, put a pupil in detention over their skin colour, and taught younger cadets a racist song while at Dulwich College in the 1970s. Farage denies the comments and actions attributed to him. The prime minister asked Farage to explain the allegations at Prime Minister's Questions, and the PM's press secretary called the claims disturbing and urgent. Reform UK said the allegations were entirely without foundation and criticised the lack of contemporaneous evidence. A Reform spokesman said Farage denies the comments and has no immediate plans to sue for defamation.

Read at www.bbc.com