Keir Starmer has sharply criticized Nigel Farage, describing him as “spineless” in addressing racism within the Reform UK party. This accusation follows revelations from the *Guardian* of allegations against Farage regarding xenophobic and antisemitic comments made during his time at Dulwich College, an elite school in south London. Starmer stated that Farage has “questions to answer” concerning these allegations, which include disturbing chants and comments related to the Holocaust.
Starmer spoke to reporters on his way to the G20 summit in Johannesburg, emphasizing the need for Farage to clarify his position on the reported incidents. He remarked, “He needs to explain the comments, or alleged comments that were made, and he needs to do that as soon as possible.” The Prime Minister highlighted a pattern of behavior, pointing to Farage’s inaction regarding fellow Reform MP Sarah Pochin, who faced backlash for her remarks about the representation of ethnic minorities in advertising.
Starmer noted, “The man is spineless. If that had been someone in my party, I’d have dealt with it straight away.” He criticized Farage for failing to address Pochin’s comments, which she made during an interview on TalkTV. Pochin expressed frustration about seeing “adverts full of black people, full of Asian people,” insisting that this does not reflect the broader society. Although Pochin later apologized for her wording, stating her comments were “phrased poorly,” Farage has yet to take any disciplinary action against her.
The allegations against Farage include disturbing accounts from former classmates, who claim he engaged in racist behavior during school. One classmate, film director Peter Ettedgui, recounted instances where Farage reportedly made comments like “Hitler was right” and sang songs containing offensive language. Ettedgui stated, “He would sidle up to me and growl ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them,’ sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers.”
In response to Starmer’s comments, Farage dismissed the allegations as misremembered events from decades ago. He countered, “For the weakest prime minister in living memory to call me spineless is utterly ludicrous.” The ongoing situation places pressure on Farage to demonstrate leadership and accountability within his party, particularly regarding Pochin’s remarks.
Starmer’s comments represent a significant escalation in the political discourse surrounding racism in the UK, highlighting the responsibilities of party leaders to address such serious allegations. As the conversation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Farage will respond to both the accusations directed at him and the calls for action against Pochin.
Both leaders will likely face scrutiny as the public and media continue to monitor this developing situation, particularly in light of the upcoming discussions at the G20 summit.
