Nigel Farage categorically denies historic racism claims - 'They want to smear me'

“I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published in the Guardian aged 13, nearly 50 years ago,” he said in a statement shared with GB News.

“Isn’t it interesting: I am probably the most scrutinised figure in British politics, having been in public life for 32 years.

“Several books and thousands of stories have been written about me, but it is only now that my party is leading in the polls that these allegations come out. I will leave the public to draw their own conclusions about why that might be…

“We know that the Guardian wants to smear anybody who talks about the immigration issue. But the truth is that I have done more in my career to defeat extremism and far-right politics than anybody else in the UK, from my time fighting the BNP right up to today.

“Many of those making these statements just happen to be political opponents. One, for example, is the current chair of the Salisbury Lib Dems.

“This is not the first time the desperate establishment has come after me, and it will not be the last.

“So again: I can categorically say that the stories being told about me from 50 years ago are not true,” Mr Farage said.

Speaking with GB News’s Martin Daubney, the Reform UK leader reiterated his strong denials of the allegations.

Mr Farage called the suggestion that the claims are merely a “politically motivated attack” on him due to his roaring success in the polls.

Pressed by Martin on his reaction to the claims, Mr Farage stated: “I did not say those things to that individual categorically, and as for other people coming out and saying things, well, we've been having a look today.

“One of them was the leader of Kent County Council until he was deposed this year, another is leader of the Lib Dems on Salisbury Council, so look, there's a very large political element to this.”

The Reform leader continued: “And as you well know, even to question immigration numbers is in the book of some people, a racist statement.

“And I think it was the same back in the 1970s too, but I absolutely deny the charges that are made by this one individual.”

Rebutting the claims of Peter Ettedgui that he had been “fundamentally dishonest” in denying the accusations, Mr Farage told GB News: “Had what he said been true, do you think I'd have been promoted in my sixth year to be a prefect?

“Do you think I'd have become a senior member of the school if the school knew and thought any of that stuff was true? And I'd point out beyond him and his recollections are wrong, beyond him, all the others say is 'they disagree with me politically', which is perhaps not a huge surprise.”

Declaring he has done “more in this country” than most in “defeating the far-right”, Mr Farage stated: “In a long career in public life that lasts over 30 years, I've done more in this country to defeat the BNP, to defeat the far right, I didn't even take the money from Elon Musk earlier this year because he wanted me to associate with Tommy Robinson.

“I have been the force in British politics, fighting against racism and against extremism. And it's only when you get near the target, perhaps winning a general election, that all this stuff comes out.”

Returning to the allegations, Mr Farage said: “It's very, very political, but we have to understand there are people that appear on GB News who will say things that some out there in the wider world take serious offence to, and they'll use the racist word about it. It doesn't mean it's true.

“It's just the way people approach things these days. I categorically deny saying those things to that one individual, and frankly, for the Guardian and the BBC to be going back just shy of half a century to come out with this stuff, it shows how desperate they are.”

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