Holocaust survivors urge Nigel Farage to apologise over allegations of antisemitic remarks
Reform UK leader denies making comments at Dulwich College
A group of Holocaust survivors have called on Nigel Farage to address allegations of racism and antisemitism during his school days at Dulwich College in south London.
The Reform UK leader denied making remarks in a "malicious or nasty way" during a press conference on Thursday and has previously described such reported incidents as "banter in a playground" that could be viewed differently "in the modern light of day."
The Holocaust survivors, some of whom endured death camps, have written a letter urging Mr Farage to clarify the allegations.
The 11 signatories wrote:
"Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter.
"Not in a playground. Not anywhere."
They called for "honesty, reflection and commitment to truth" regarding claims about "invoking Nazi attitudes" and said Mr Farage must either admit to having made the remarks or accuse those who allege he did of lying.
"So we ask you: Did you say 'Hitler was right' and 'gas them', mimicking gas chambers? Did you subject your classmates to antisemitic abuse?
"If you deny saying those words, are you saying that 20 former classmates and teachers are lying?
"If you did say them, now is the time to acknowledge you were wrong, and apologise."
Allegations from former classmates
One of Mr Farage's former classmates, Peter Ettedgui, who is Jewish, has claimed that the politician repeatedly made remarks such as "Hitler was right" when they were at Dulwich College.
The Holocaust survivors further expressed their concerns, stating:
"Those who hope to lead our country should never divide people by race or religion. Antisemitic hatred must never be normalised."
Hedi Argent, who escaped Austria but lost 27 family members, and Simon Winston, who was held in a ghetto during the German occupation of the Soviet Union, are among the survivors who signed the letter.
Further criticism of Nigel Farage
Separately, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer labelled Mr Farage as a "toxic, divisive disgrace" following comments where the Reform UK leader claimed one in three schoolchildren in Glasgow do not speak English as a first language, referring to this as the "cultural smashing of Glasgow."
Scottish First Minister John Swinney also criticised Mr Farage’s remarks, calling them "simply racist."