Nigel Farage sang antisemitic songs to Jewish schoolmates – and had a «big issue with anyone called Patel», a former schoolfriend has claimed.
Jean-Pierre Lihou, 61, was initially friends with the Reform UK leader when he arrived at Dulwich College in the 1970s, at the time when Mr Farage is accused of saying antisemitic and other racist remarks by more than a dozen pupils.
But Mr Lihou, who is half-German and said he went for a couple of sleepovers at Mr Farage’s parent’s house, told Sky News’ Amanda Akass that it «soon become obvious he was not quite the same person I thought he was».
Warning: This article contains references to antisemitic slurs which readers may find offensive
Another former pupil, Stefan Benarroch, who was in the year below Mr Farage and is Jewish, said that Mr Farage was «not a kid» when he made alleged antisemitic remarks and his behaviour was «unacceptable in any era».
Mr Farage has said he «never directly racially abused anybody» at Dulwich and said there is a «strong political element» to the allegations coming out 49 years later. Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice has called the ex-classmates «liars».
A Reform UK spokesman accused Sky News of «scraping the barrel» and were «desperate to stop us winning the next election».
‘People were hurt by it‘
Mr Lihou told Sky News Mr Farage used to direct antisemitic songs at his Jewish friend Peter Ettedgui, who is one of the main former classmates to have spoken out against the Reform leader.
«He used to sing: ‘Gas them all, gas them out, gas them all, into the chambers they crawl’ – and the rest of those horrible words,» he said.
«You think, when somebody is obviously distressed by that, why do you keep doing it? The humour wears off… when you see this, and because I’m German I’m particularly sensitive to anyone making that kind of analogy.»
Mr Lihou also said Mr Farage used to «pass comment on anyone that wasn’t white, particularly Indians».
He said: «He had a great big issue with anyone called Patel because I think the school had at one point more Patels than Smiths. That seemed to irk him.
«Anybody who wasn’t white, he was likely to have a comment pretty much throughout my school life, especially Jewish people. I think that was the worst thing because you could obviously see that people were hurt by it.»
Stefan Benarroch told Sky News Nigel Farage was ‘not a kid’ when he made antisemitic remarks to classmates
‘He was truly ghastly’
Mr Benarroch, who was also friends with Mr Ettedgui, told Sky News: «His behaviour as a teenager was unacceptable by any standards and in any era. He was truly ghastly at Dulwich College.»
He said he would never have come across Mr Farage «had I not been a Jew».
«He and his minions – and one of his minions, in particular, was my tormentor at Dulwich – they would spot us coming out of Jewish prayers on a Friday,» he added.
«So his behaviour at 16, 17, 18 – and you are a man at 18, you’re technically an adult – was truly appalling. So we’re not talking about a kid here.»
The property developer said the racism allegations are «not just about Nigel Farage as a teenager, this is also about Nigel Farage as an adult».
«His behaviour as a teenager was unacceptable by any standards and in any era.
He was truly terrible at Dulwich College,» he added.
‘These things don’t leave you’
Mr Benarroch, who is no longer a practising Jew, added: «I was terrified of his bullies, he had these guys hanging around with him who were instructed to have a go at us as these young, nice Jewish boys.
«I don’t recall ever having direct contact with Nigel Farage, but certainly I was very much a witness to his tormenting of others, especially Peter Ettudgui.
«He [Mr Farage] was so extreme, these things don’t leave you, they don’t leave your body, as such.»
On Thursday, Mr Farage launched into a tirade at the BBC after one of its reporters asked about the claims, with the politician reading out a letter he said was from someone he went to school with.
He quoted the unnamed Jewish pupil as saying there was «plenty of macho, tongue-in-cheek schoolboy banter» and said sometimes it «was offensive, but never with malice».
The problem for Farage is the story is only getting bigger
Allegations about Nigel Farage’s schooldays have hit the headlines since the early days of the Brexit campaign in 2013.
He has always dismissed such claims as ‘politically motivated’ and insisted recently he has ‘never directly racially abused anybody’.
But now with the prospect of Prime Minister Farage looking ever more likely – former classmates have decided now is the moment to speak up about their concerns, almost fifty years later.
The allegations are deeply shocking. Jean-Pierre Lihou informed me that Farage used to sing a disturbing song about the Nazi gas chambers, with lyrics that included «gas them all, gas them out, gas them all, into the chambers they crawl.»
Lihou also claimed that Farage suggested non-white students should be sent home and expressed concern over the number of students with the surname ‘Patel’ compared to ‘Smith’ at the school.
Stephan Benarroch recalled witnessing Farage bullying others and instilling fear in him and his Jewish friends on their way back from Friday prayers.
The Guardian’s investigation revealed 28 former teachers and pupils who witnessed antisemitic or racist behavior from Farage.
Holocaust survivors are demanding Farage to address the accusations and apologize or challenge those who accused him of lying.
Political opponents, including Labour and Liberal Democrats, are pressuring Farage to come clean and apologize for his alleged remarks.
The Tories believe Farage should apologize if the accusations are true, with Kemi Badenoch acknowledging the difference in behavior between teenagers and adults.
Despite Farage’s frustration and denial, the story is gaining momentum, with Reform UK defending him against the allegations.
The impact of these allegations on potential voters, especially wavering Tories, could affect Reform UK’s electoral success. Nigel Farage was accused by a former schoolmate of singing antisemitic songs to Jewish classmates and displaying prejudice towards individuals named Patel during his time at Dulwich College in the 1970s. The former schoolmate, Jean-Pierre Lihou, revealed that Farage’s behavior changed over time, indicating a shift in his character. Another former pupil, Stefan Benarroch, also criticized Farage’s alleged antisemitic remarks, emphasizing that such behavior was unacceptable. Farage denied directly racially abusing anyone at Dulwich and suggested a political motive behind the allegations made almost 50 years later. Reform UK’s deputy leader dismissed the claims as lies. A spokesperson for Reform UK accused Sky News of attempting to hinder their success in the upcoming election by publishing the allegations. Stefan Benarroch told Sky News that Nigel Farage’s behavior as a teenager was unacceptable and truly ghastly, particularly towards non-white individuals and Jewish people. Benarroch stated that Farage’s comments and actions were hurtful and continued into his adult years, indicating a pattern of racism that persisted over time. The property developer emphasized that these allegations are not just about Farage’s teenage years but also reflect his behavior as an adult. He was truly awful at Dulwich College,» he added.
‘These things don’t leave you’
Mr Benarroch, who is no longer a practising Jew, added: «I was terrified of his bullies, he had these guys hanging around with him who were instructed to have a go at us as these young, nice Jewish boys.
«I don’t recall ever having direct contact with Nigel Farage, but certainly I was very much a witness to his tormenting of others, especially Peter Ettudgui.
«He [Mr Farage] was so extreme, these things don’t leave you, they don’t leave your body, as such.»
On Thursday, Mr Farage launched into a tirade at the BBC after one of its reporters asked about the claims, with the politician reading out a letter he said was from someone he went to school with.
He quoted the unnamed Jewish pupil as saying there was «plenty of macho, tongue-in-cheek schoolboy banter» and said sometimes it «was offensive, but never with malice».
The problem for Farage is the story is only getting bigger
Allegations about Nigel Farage’s schooldays have hit the headlines since the early days of the Brexit campaign in 2013.
He has always dismissed such claims as ‘politically motivated’ and insisted recently he has ‘never directly racially abused anybody’.
But now with the prospect of Prime Minister Farage looking ever more likely – former classmates have decided now is the moment to speak up about their concerns, almost fifty years later.
The allegations are deeply shocking. Jean-Pierre Lihou informed me that Farage used to sing a disturbing song about the Nazi gas chambers, with lyrics that included ‘gas them all, gas them out, gas them all, into the chambers they crawl’. Lihou also alleges that Farage made racist remarks about non-white pupils and was troubled by the number of students with the surname ‘Patel’ compared to ‘Smith’ at the school.
Stephan Benarroch witnessed Farage bullying others and felt intimidated by Farage and his group of bullies, who targeted Jewish boys after Friday prayers. The Guardian’s investigation revealed 28 former teachers and pupils who reported witnessing antisemitic or racist behavior from Farage.
Holocaust survivors are demanding Farage to either admit or apologize for the alleged remarks, while political opponents, including Labour and Liberal Democrats, are pressuring him to come clean. The Tories suggest Farage should apologize if the accusations are true, with Kemi Badenoch highlighting the difference in behavior from adolescence to adulthood.
Despite Farage’s frustration and denial of the allegations, the story continues to gain traction. Reform UK has pushed back against the accusations, accusing Sky News of trying to hinder their election success. Ultimately, the impact of these allegations on potential voters, especially wavering Tories, remains a concern for Reform UK’s electoral prospects. A former schoolfriend of Nigel Farage has claimed that the Reform UK leader sang antisemitic songs to Jewish schoolmates and had a «big issue with anyone called Patel» during their time at Dulwich College in the 1970s. Jean-Pierre Lihou, who was initially friends with Farage when he arrived at the school, spoke out about the alleged antisemitic and racist remarks made by Farage, as reported by more than a dozen pupils.
Lihou, who is half-German, revealed that he had a change of opinion about Farage after spending time with him, saying that it became clear that Farage was not the person he initially thought he was. These revelations have sparked controversy and concern about Farage’s past behavior.
Stefan Benarroch, another former pupil who was in the year below Farage and is Jewish, also condemned Farage’s alleged antisemitic remarks, stating that such behavior was unacceptable in any era. Benarroch emphasized that Farage was not a child when he made these remarks, indicating a level of maturity and awareness of his actions.
In response to these allegations, Farage denied directly racially abusing anyone at Dulwich College and suggested that there may be a political motivation behind the timing of these accusations, which have surfaced nearly 50 years later. Despite Farage’s denial, the gravity of the allegations and the testimonies of multiple former pupils raise questions about his character and past conduct.
The controversy surrounding Farage’s alleged antisemitic behavior has drawn attention to the importance of addressing and confronting racism and discrimination in all its forms. It serves as a reminder of the need for tolerance, understanding, and respect for individuals of all backgrounds and identities.
The accusations against Farage have sparked a debate about accountability, integrity, and the implications of past actions on present-day perceptions. As a public figure and political leader, Farage’s conduct and attitudes are subject to scrutiny and evaluation, especially in relation to issues of racism and prejudice.
The allegations made by former schoolmates shed light on a troubling aspect of Farage’s past and raise concerns about his suitability for public office. The claims of antisemitic behavior and racist remarks paint a disturbing picture of Farage’s character and values, prompting a reassessment of his credibility and reputation.
The response from Reform UK, which accused Sky News of sensationalism and bias in reporting the story, reflects the contentious nature of the allegations and the political implications of the controversy. The ongoing debate surrounding Farage’s alleged antisemitism underscores the importance of addressing systemic discrimination and promoting inclusivity and diversity in society.
Overall, the revelations about Farage’s past behavior highlight the complexities of addressing racism and prejudice, as well as the challenges of holding individuals accountable for their actions. The impact of these accusations extends beyond personal reputation to broader societal issues, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue and action to combat discrimination and promote equality for all. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform, has labeled his former classmates as «liars.» A spokesman for Reform UK accused Sky News of being desperate to prevent them from winning the next election and scraping the bottom of the barrel for stories.
One of the former classmates, Jean-Pierre Lihou, shared that Nigel Farage used to direct antisemitic songs at his Jewish friend Peter Ettedgui, causing distress. Lihou also mentioned that Farage made derogatory comments about non-white individuals, particularly Indians, during their school years.
Another classmate, Stefan Benarroch, described Farage’s behavior as «truly ghastly» during their time at Dulwich College. Benarroch emphasized that Farage’s actions were unacceptable for a teenager and continued into adulthood. He highlighted the importance of holding Farage accountable for his past behavior.
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Por Ismael Buendía
Soy Ismael Buendía, director de Comunicación con más de 20 años de experiencia en reputación corporativa, gestión de crisis y estrategia digital. He liderado equipos en multinacionales y agencias, asesorado a directivos y diseñado estrategias de alto impacto. Me motiva la transparencia, la innovación y la comunicación como ventaja competitiva.