Farage rails against BBC as he faces more questions over school ‘racism’
Nigel Farage launched into a tirade against the BBC, including its past television shows, for “double standards”, as he was asked about allegations of racism during his schooldays.
The Reform UK leader has faced allegations he engaged in racist and antisemitic behaviour while he was a pupil at Dulwich College, a top private school in south London.
As he spoke at a central London press conference, Mr Farage sought to suggest journalists from broadcasters asking questions about the allegations were displaying double standards, because their outlets had in the past aired programmes which would now be considered racist.
Mr Farage was asked by the BBC about an interview his deputy, Richard Tice, gave on Thursday, in which he claimed those accusing his boss of racism were engaging in “made-up twaddle”.
The Reform leader said the framing of questions was “despicable”.
He then accused the BBC of “double standards and hypocrisy” because of television shows including Are You Being Served? and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
Mr Farage said: “I cannot put up with the double standards of the BBC about what I’m alleged to have said 49 years ago and what you were putting out on mainstream content.
“So I want an apology from the BBC for virtually everything you did throughout the 1970s and 80s.”
Mr Farage’s former classmate, Peter Ettedgui, is among those who have accused him of making racist remarks to him during their school days.
Mr Ettedgui, who is Jewish, has claimed that Mr Farage had “repeatedly” approached him and said “Hitler was right”, while they were pupils at the school.
‘Malicious’
At the press conference, Mr Farage continued to deny he ever made racist remarks in a “malicious or nasty way”.
He also read out a letter he said he had received from a former schoolmate at Dulwich College, who said he never heard the Reform UK leader racially abuse anyone.
Mr Farage read: “I was a Jewish pupil at Dulwich College at the same time and I remember him very well.
“While there was plenty of macho tongue-in-cheek schoolboy banter, it was humour, and yes, sometimes it was offensive … but never with malice.
“I never heard him racially abuse anyone.
“If he had, he would have been reported and punished. He wasn’t. The news stories are without evidence, except for belatedly, politically dubious recollections from nearly half a century ago.
“Back in the 1970s the culture was very different … especially at Dulwich.
“Lots of boys said things they’d regret today or just laugh at.
“Whilst Nigel stood out, he was neither aggressive nor a racist.”
He said he had “plenty” of similar messages over the last few days, and later claimed he has seen about half a dozen or so.
‘Rant’
A Conservative spokesman said Mr Farage was too busy defending himself to “defend democracy” from election postponements announced by Labour.
“Nigel Farage just called a press conference and used it to rant at journalists over historic allegations of racism and antisemitism – allegations he has just admitted are true.
“Farage is too busy furiously defending himself to defend democracy from the Labour Party’s elections delays.
“Reform’s one-man band is in chaos once again.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
The patron saint of grievance is aggrieved.
None of these fascists like scrutiny do they. Anyone/ anybody question them they attack, attack attack. Its time they were banned from our lives
Racists don’t like being called out.
He is on his way down.
‘The Culture at Dulwich’ Whatever does he mean Rev, army cadets putting the skinheads to shame, did these ruffians have a collective name like Fat Shanks’ Bully Club.
Much of what ails the UK stems from the performing dark art of these two men, FS and Farage. Traitors, agent provocateurs the pair…RIP Jo Cox…
Bit much after all the BBC have done to further his career and bringing us Brexit…
He then accused the BBC of “double standards and hypocrisy” because of television shows including Are You Being Served? and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
“Oh dear, how sad, never mind“
He doesn’t like being under the microscope does he ?
Woke doesn’t begin to describe him.
The problem with Farage is the smell has lingered throughout his adult life
Alan Sked founder of UKIP publicly criticized Farage, calling him a “dimwitted ra cist”
In 1997 Sked recalls an incident when the two men were arguing over the kind of candidates that Ukip should have standing at the looming general election. “He wanted ex-National Front candidates to run and I said,
‘I’m not sure about that,’ and
He said,
‘There’s no need to worry about the n***** vote.
The n**-n**s will never vote for us.'”
Dennis Healey on Geoffrey Howe, “Like being savaged by a dead sheep..”.
Dickie Tice the new Geoffrey Howe.
Apologies to Geoffrey Howe.
In 2025 he recruited Laura Anne Jones knowing she was being investigated for making a racial slur.
He couldn’t care a monkey’s
The well oiled party machine in overdrive desperately trying to pass Farage’s racism off as growing pains
One of the more bizarre things is that Alf Garnett was actually satire. The actor Warren Mitchell was always at pains to point this out. Unsurprisingly, Nige missed that bit…
Why doesn’t he name his peers who are now defending him? What aren’t we being told. Do they actually exist?
Remember he said something along the lines who can remember that far back then all of a sudden he was “never meant it to mean harm” now it someone who does remember that far back (aftre he said that cant be right) and he is happy to take it. But unless you were the one he attacked, then they would say that.
He has form and always has.