Address claims of racism, ministers and accusers tell Reform leader

Nigel Farage

- 

Is the blanket denial made by aides to Farage over the allegations. The wholesale rejection of the claims appears to be a change of tack by Farage, who had responded differently to the allegations of racism reported by Channel 4's Michael Crick in 2013.

Back then, Farage claimed that he may have said "some ridiculous things ... not necessarily racist things ... it depends on how you define it".

Farage is yet to comment in person on the claims, which include those made by Peter Ettedgui, 61, an award-winning director, who has said that Farage would sidle up to him and growl "Hitler was right" or "gas them".

Following the Guardian's initial report, Ettedgui told the Guardian's Today in Focus podcast: "If he was here right now, I'd want to know if that racist mindset of 13-14, and right up to the end of his Dulwich career, the age of 18, that, that racist mindset, does it have a role to play in his statements about rounding up and wanting to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants, including people with legally settled status? I'd want to know that, and I think that's a very important question for him to answer."