News

Farage rocked by racism claims from former Dulwich classmates

Published

4 months ago

November 24, 2025

Named classmates accuse Reform UK leader of racist bullying, Nazi references and targeted abuse – Farage dismisses claims as “lies and smears”

NIGEL FARAGE is facing one of the most serious crises of his political career after more than twenty former pupils and a former teacher at Dulwich College accused him of sustained racist behaviour during his school years, according to an extensive investigation published by The Guardian.

The allegations explode into the public domain on the very day Farage arrives in Wales for a high-profile Reform UK rally at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, where he is due to address supporters from 6:00pm. What was intended to be a set-piece moment in the party’s Welsh campaign is now overshadowed by the growing controversy. Party insiders told the Herald that the timing is “deeply unhelpful”, with broadcasters expected to challenge Farage directly during his visit.

Dulwich College, one of Britain’s most elite public schools, charges more than £25,000 a year in fees and has a long history of sending pupils into the military, politics, journalism and the City. Founded in 1619, the south London institution is known for its strict traditions, academic reputation and its prominent Combined Cadet Force. It was within this privileged environment that former pupils say Farage expressed what one described as “openly extremist” views.

Named witnesses describe Hitler references and racist slurs

Several of Farage’s contemporaries spoke to The Guardian on the record, including:

Peter Ettedgui, who says he was repeatedly targeted with anti-Semitic abuse
Jean-Pierre Lihou, who recalled Farage saying “Hitler was right” and singing racist lyrics
Andy Field, a former prefect, who said Farage’s comments were “jaw-dropping”
Martin Rosell, who said Farage made repeated comments to Jewish pupils
Bob Jope, a former teacher, who recalled Farage allegedly saying “shut up, you Jew” to Ettedgui

Their testimonies, gathered over several months, are unusually detailed and consistent.

One former pupil alleged that Farage would chant far-right slogans and use slurs aimed at Jewish, Black and Asian classmates. Another claimed he witnessed Farage sing lines such as “Gas ’em all… into the chambers they crawl” — lyrics he said were adapted from a George Formby melody.

Jean-Pierre Lihou said Farage would call Ettedgui “Jude” — the German term for “Jew” used in the 1930s — in a “menacing” way. Lihou also claimed Farage said “gas ’em” and “Hitler was right” in front of other students.

A number of former cadets told the newspaper that Farage would mock minority pupils during Combined Cadet Force activities, sing racist songs on CCF coaches and chant at Jewish pupils.

One former student said: “He was proud to be a racist at school. That was his shtick.”

Another said: “His behaviour towards cadets of ethnic background was no better than to those of Jewish religion. I remember the word ‘yid’ being shouted, sometimes several times in a row.”

A further pupil added: “My overriding memory is just nasty little s**t and a racist.”

Teacher says he removed Farage from lesson after alleged slur

Former teacher Bob Jope told The Guardian he remembered an incident early in his career in which Farage allegedly used an anti-Semitic slur towards Ettedgui. Jope said he ordered Farage out of the classroom immediately, saying he was too inexperienced at the time to handle such a confrontation more formally.

Farage denies all allegations

Farage has rejected every claim, calling them “false”, “politically motivated” and “a smear campaign”. He has insisted he has never expressed racist views and said his school years are being misrepresented by political opponents.

Reform UK has not issued any separate statement.

A political storm with national implications

The scale of the allegations, the number of named witnesses, and the level of detail published are unusual in modern political reporting. With Farage playing a central role in national debates, political commentators predict that the story will dominate the news cycle this week.

The Guardian’s investigation describes a pattern that, if proven, would represent some of the most serious allegations ever levelled at a major UK political figure.

Potential fallout in Wales

Political observers say the allegations could have a particular impact in Wales, where Reform UK has been trying to convert high polling numbers into solid electoral ground. While Farage retains a loyal core following, Welsh seats — especially in areas such as Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and the Valleys — are often decided by floating voters who are less tolerant of personal controversy. Senior figures in Welsh politics told the Herald that the sheer volume and seriousness of the allegations may harden views among moderate voters and damage Reform UK’s attempts to present itself as a credible, mainstream force ahead of the next general election.

Dulwich College declined to comment.

News

Motorcyclist injured in Johnston crash after overtaking lorry

Published

18 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Rider treated by paramedics following collision with van pulling out from junction

A MOTORCYCLIST was treated by paramedics after a collision with a van in Johnston on Monday morning (Mar 16).

The crash happened shortly after 9.15am as the rider was overtaking a lorry through slow-moving traffic on the main road. It is understood the lorry blocked the rider’s view of a van pulling out from a junction near KO Carpets.

Police units attended promptly to assist at the scene.

The motorcyclist is not believed to have been seriously injured.

The van suffered slight damage, including a broken wing mirror.

The road was not closed, police said.

Health

Plaid Cymru to hold public meeting over Withybush hospital surgery cuts

Published

19 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Candidates say residents must be heard after emergency services decision

PLAID CYMRU candidates for the Ceredigion Penfro constituency will host a public meeting in Pembrokeshire to discuss concerns over the future of services at Withybush Hospital.

The event will take place at 6:30pm on Monday (Mar 31) at Letterston Village Hall, giving residents the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns following Hywel Dda University Health Board’s decision last month to remove emergency general surgery from the hospital.

Campaigners say the move will force many patients requiring urgent treatment to travel further for care, raising fears about the potential impact on patient safety in rural west Wales.

Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru lead candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, said: “Withybush is such an important hospital for the community and residents of Pembrokeshire. The decision to remove its emergency general surgery will severely weaken the life-saving capacity of this hospital.

“Plaid Cymru has long championed small rural hospitals such as Bronglais and Withybush. We need to ensure these hospitals remain strong local services within our communities. Withybush should have the basic life-saving and everyday treatment services it needs to function as a full general hospital.”

Kerry Ferguson, Plaid Cymru candidate for Pembrokeshire within the Ceredigion Penfro constituency, said the recent success of a public petition had demonstrated the strength of local feeling.

“It’s great to see that the online petition calling for Welsh Government intervention to restore emergency surgery and essential services at Withybush has reached its target, meaning it will now be debated in the Senedd,” she said.

“We are extremely disappointed by the Health Board’s decision to remove emergency general surgery at Withybush. Increased journey times for anyone in need of urgent medical treatment will put lives at risk. We need government intervention now to overturn this decision.”

Residents across Pembrokeshire have continued to raise concerns about the future of services at the hospital, which has long been a focal point in debates about healthcare provision in rural west Wales.

Climate

Research vessel begins mission to study seabed carbon in Irish Sea

Published

19 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Bangor University scientists join £2.1m project investigating the impact of bottom trawling on carbon stored beneath the seabed

A STATE OF THE ART research vessel has set sail from Liverpool to investigate how bottom trawling may affect carbon stored in the seabed of the Irish Sea.

The scientific expedition is part of a £2.1 million research project funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and led by Professor Jan Geert Hiddink of Bangor University.

A team of eighteen scientists has embarked on the RRS Discovery, one of the world’s most advanced research vessels, for a three-and-a-half-week voyage studying the impact of fishing activity on carbon held in seabed sediments.

Before the ship departed, a number of local dignitaries were invited aboard for a tour of the vessel, including Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram and National Oceanography Centre Operations Director Natalie Campbell.

Professor Jan Geert Hiddink, from Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences, said bottom-trawl fishing is both vital to global food supply and a major disturbance to seabed environments.

“Bottom-trawl fishing provides around a quarter of global seafood but is also the most extensive physical disturbance caused by human activities to stocks of carbon locked in seabed sediments,” he said.

“This is important because recent evidence suggests that disturbing the seabed could lead to the release of significant amounts of greenhouse gases from the seabed into the atmosphere.

“There are still major uncertainties about how this disturbance affects carbon stored beneath the seabed. As a result, the impact of these disturbances is largely unquantified and currently unregulated.

“The aim of this project is to gain a much clearer understanding of what is happening so that scientists, policymakers and regulators can make informed decisions in the future.”

Seven research organisations are collaborating on the project: Bangor University, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Heriot-Watt University, the University of Leeds, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the University of St Andrews, and Imperial College London.

Caption: Scientists prepare to begin their research aboard the RRS Discovery, one of the world’s most advanced research vessels.