Nigel Farage has insisted he never racially abused anyone “in a hurtful or insulting way” when he was at school.
The Reform UK leader spoke out publicly for the first time since he was accused of anti-semitism when he was a pupil at Dulwich College.
Around 20 of his fellow pupils told The Guardian they had experienced or witnessed racist behaviour by Farage.
He appeared deeply uncomfortable when challenged about the accusations by ITV News on Monday.
Asked if he racially abused fellow pupils when he was a schoolboy, Farage said: “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.”
Asked if “categorically, on the record” he did not racially abuse fellow pupils, he replied: “I would never ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.”
Farage added: “It’s 49 years ago, it’s 49 years ago. I’d 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.”
After the journalist told him his answer was “very very caveated”, Farage said he had never racially abused a fellow pupil “with intent”.
Asked what that meant, the Reform leader said: “I have never directly really tried to go and hurt anybody.”
Labour peer Lord Mike Katz, former chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said: “Farage refuses to discipline the racist views of his MPs and he won’t take action on the toxic culture within his party.
“He should finally come clean on claims over his past and apologise to those who bravely spoke out. Failure to do so would be yet more evidence that Farage is simply unfit for office.”
Lib Dem president-elect John Babarinde MP said: “The Reform leader’s refusal to deny that he’s said these racist remarks is unbecoming from someone who wants to be our next prime minister.
“The British people deserve a straight answer. It looks like the mask has slipped and fact-of-the matter-Farage is turning into no-answers-Nigel.”
