Conservative Party Chair Kemi Badenoch has questioned why Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has not apologized for alleged racist and antisemitic comments made during his school years, citing the accounts of over 20 former schoolmates.
Badenoch Calls for Apology
Badenoch stated she was struck by Farage’s lack of admission of fault or apology, noting that her first instinct as a politician would be to offer one. She suggested his refusal indicates a lack of concern for past harm caused.
Twenty-eight of Farage’s former Dulwich College classmates have alleged they experienced or witnessed racist or antisemitic behavior from him as a teenager. Peter Ettedgui, 61, who is Jewish, claims Farage repeatedly told him “Hitler was right” and “gas them.”
Yinka Bankole stated on Friday that a 17-year-old Farage told him “that’s the way back to Africa” when Bankole was new to the school. Badenoch acknowledged she had never experienced racism from Farage but found the number of allegations “a bit strange.”
“A lot of people are coming out saying he did say those things. He should just apologise,” Badenoch told TalkTV. “If he just said: ‘You know, I was a kid, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. It was wrong. People shouldn’t speak like that,’ this would all have gone away.”
She added that the issue isn’t necessarily that Farage is racist, but rather that he “doesn’t care” about the impact of his words. Badenoch emphasized that a serious politician seeking to lead the country should be mindful of the effect their words have on others.
Badenoch highlighted the significant number of former schoolmates who have come forward with allegations, stating there are “like 20 people” who have shared their experiences. Farage has questioned the accuracy of his former schoolmates’ memories and suggested he has been targeted for political reasons, consistently denying any malicious intent.
At a press conference last Thursday, Farage reacted with anger to questions about the claims, stating that while he may have made offensive remarks, they were “never with malice.” A lawyer representing Reform UK has “categorically denied” that Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behavior.
Bankole, who recently went public with his account after watching Farage’s press conference, said he was repeatedly targeted by the teenage Farage, who “would wait at the lower-school gate…so as to repeat the vulgarity.”
Reform UK were approached for comment regarding Badenoch’s remarks.
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