Farage rejects claims of abuse at school: 'I never tried to hurt anybody'

The Reform UK leader's aides emphatically denied the allegations, saying any "suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied".

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In an interview with ITV News yesterday Farage appeared to give a more nuanced response when he was asked if he had racially abused fellow pupils at school.

He replied: “No, this is 49 years ago by the way, 49 years ago. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where they’re from? No.”

The interviewer accused him of caveating his answer, and asked again if he categorically denied the claims.

“I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way,” Farage responded. “It’s 49 years ago. It’s 49 years ago. I had just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can’t.

Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant, personal abuse, genuine abuse, on that basis? No.”

Challenged again about whether he had racially abused anyone, Farage responded: “No, not with intent.”

When the interviewer told Farage that he did not understand what he meant by “not with intent”, the Reform leader responded: “You wouldn’t.”

Farage added: “No. I have never directly, really tried to go and hurt anybody.”