I still bear the scars of Farage’s cruelty, says former pupil

The Reform leader’s rejection of Tommy Robinson won over voters. But new claims from contemporaries could change that

- Catherine Neilan

Nigel Farage’s schooldays have been a source of fascination since 2013, when journalist Michael Crick first uncovered a teacher's letter saying the then-teenager had expressed “racist and neo-fascist views”.

Now at least 28 former pupils have come forward to make new allegations or back up claims of racism and bullying at the hands of Farage at Dulwich College.

Reform has denied the allegations and Farage has said he “would never, ever [racially abuse someone] in a hurtful or insulting way”. But sources who have spoken to The Observer, as well as those who spoke initially to the Guardian as part of the paper's reporting published last month, argue he demonstrated a pattern of behaviour with that intent behind it.

Peter Ettedgui, a Jewish Baftaand Emmy-winning director and producer who has accused Farage of saying “Hitler was right” and “to the gas chambers”, said the comments left an emotional scar. “I never encountered that kind of cruel, personal antisemitism, either before or since,” he said.