What's happened
Nigel Farage faces allegations of racist and antisemitic comments from school years, with over 20 former classmates claiming offensive remarks and behaviour. Farage denies the claims, calling them a smear campaign, amid ongoing political controversy. The story is current as of Tue, 09 Dec 2025.
What's behind the headline?
The allegations against Farage highlight ongoing tensions around historical racism and antisemitism in UK politics. The multiple sources reveal a pattern of accusations from former classmates and witnesses, with some calling for apologies and accountability. Farage's dismissals and accusations of a smear campaign suggest a strategic attempt to deflect and minimize the controversy. The story underscores the importance of addressing past behaviour, especially when it involves offensive or racist remarks, as it impacts public trust and political integrity. The timing of the revelations, coinciding with his rising poll support, indicates a possible attempt by opponents to undermine his credibility. The controversy also raises broader questions about how historical misconduct is judged in contemporary politics and the role of public memory in shaping political careers.
What the papers say
The Mirror, The Independent, The Guardian all report on the allegations, with varying perspectives. The Mirror emphasizes Farage's denials and Tice's defense, framing the story as a political smear. The Independent highlights the broader context of Farage's past comments and the calls for apology from figures like Lammy and Starmer, portraying the allegations as serious and credible. The Guardian provides detailed accounts from multiple witnesses and former classmates, emphasizing the pattern of antisemitic remarks and the calls for accountability from legal and political figures. The contrasting tones reflect the political divide: some sources dismiss the claims as politically motivated, while others treat them as deeply troubling and credible.
How we got here
The controversy stems from allegations that Nigel Farage made pro-Hitler comments, joked about gas chambers, and used racist language during his time at Dulwich College in the late 1970s. Over a dozen former classmates have come forward, and some Holocaust survivors have demanded the truth. Farage has dismissed these claims as politically motivated smear tactics, while critics argue the allegations are deeply troubling and reflect a pattern of antisemitic behaviour.
Go deeper
More on these topics
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Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician. He has been leader of the Brexit Party since 2019, and served as Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Dulwich College is a 2–18 private, day and boarding school for boys in Dulwich, London, England. As a public school, it began as the College of God's Gift, founded in 1619 by Elizabethan actor Edward Alleyn, with the original purpose of educating 12 poo
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Reform UK is a populist political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded as The Brexit Party with a focus on Euroscepticism in November 2018, until being renamed on 6 January 2021.
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Richard James Sunley Tice is a British businessman and politician who has been chairman of the Brexit Party since 2019. He was elected as a Brexit Party Member of the European Parliament for the East of England at the 2019 European Parliament election.
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David Lindon Lammy PC FRSA is a British Labour Party politician serving as Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000, and has served as Shadow Secretary of State for Justice and Shadow Lord Chancellor in Keir Starmer's Shadow Cabinet since 2020.