Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, has sharply criticized Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, for his handling of racism allegations within his party. This statement follows a report from the Guardian detailing accusations that Farage made xenophobic and antisemitic remarks during his time at Dulwich College, an elite school in South London.
Starmer’s comments came as he was en route to the G20 summit in Johannesburg. He stated that Farage has “questions to answer” regarding the allegations, which include claims of bullying directed at ethnic minority students, as well as chants and songs with Holocaust references. Starmer emphasized that Farage’s track record on these issues is concerning, citing a particular incident involving Sarah Pochin, a fellow MP in the Reform UK party.
“He needs to explain the comments, or alleged comments that were made, and he needs to do that as soon as possible,” Starmer said. He noted that Farage has not acted on Pochin’s previous remarks, which included complaints about the representation of black and brown individuals in advertisements.
Starmer’s remarks reflect a growing frustration with Farage’s perceived inaction on racism within his party. “The man is spineless,” Starmer remarked, highlighting that if such comments had originated from within his own party, he would have addressed them immediately.
The Prime Minister’s condemnation is the strongest yet directed at Farage since the Guardian reported multiple allegations concerning racist language and behavior. Former classmates, including film director Peter Ettedgui, have recounted instances of Farage singing songs that referenced the Holocaust and making offensive statements during their time at school.
In response to Starmer’s accusations, Farage denied the allegations, claiming that his former classmates are misremembering events from over four decades ago. He described Starmer’s criticism as “utterly ludicrous,” particularly labeling him as the “weakest prime minister in living memory.”
The controversy surrounding Farage is compounded by pressure on him to address comments made by Pochin. During an interview on TalkTV, she expressed frustration over the representation of ethnic minorities in advertisements, stating, “It drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people.” Her remarks have drawn backlash, prompting calls for Farage to take disciplinary action.
While Farage has characterized Pochin’s comments as “ugly,” he has refrained from labeling them as racist. Pochin later apologized, stating that her language was “phrased poorly” and that she did not intend to cause offense. She added that her intention was to highlight changes within the British advertising sector towards greater diversity and inclusion.
As this situation unfolds, both Starmer and Farage remain under scrutiny for their handling of racism allegations, with broader implications for political leadership and accountability within their respective parties.
