Emma Barnett clashes with Reform deputy leader over dismissal of Farage antisemitism allegations

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has dismissed allegations that Nigel Farage made antisemitic comments as “made-up twaddle” during a heated exchange with presenter Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

The claims were made by BAFTA-winning Jewish director Peter Ettedgui, who said he was subjected to taunts of “Hitler was right” while at school with Farage at Dulwich College.

Tice accused Ettedgui of having a “politically biased motive” and said the BBC had already been told Farage’s side of the story, questioning why the issue was being raised again.

Barnett noted that around 20 contemporaries had backed similar claims, as reported by the Guardian, and asked Tice if saying “Hitler was right” to a Jewish person constituted “direct racial abuse.”

Tice replied, “Yes, I do, and I can’t believe anybody would have said that,” reiterating his view that the allegations were fabricated by those opposed to Farage’s political ambitions.

Barnett corrected Tice, pointing out that Ettedgui had made the same claims in 2013 to another journalist and highlighted Ettedgui’s family history as refugees from Nazi Germany.

She pressed Tice on whether calling a Jewish person “gas chambers” with a hiss could be considered “banter,” as alleged.

Tice responded by directly accusing Ettedgui of lying and insisted the accusations were part of a politically motivated campaign against Reform UK.

He also claimed, “no one has stood up against antisemitism more than Nigel and I,” citing their opposition to pro-Palestinian protests after Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.

The Guardian reported that eight school contemporaries had corroborated Ettedgui’s account, and about two dozen witnesses recounted Farage’s racist and antisemitic remarks as a pupil.

In response to the investigation, Farage admitted he may have said things at school that could be viewed differently today but denied making racist or antisemitic comments “directly” at an individual.

His lawyers initially issued a categorical denial, but Farage later said, “Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can’t,” and insisted he had never engaged in “direct, unpleasant, personal abuse.”

The Conservative peer Lord Finkelstein had also expressed concern about the response to the claims by Farage and other supporters of the Reform leader.

In a post on X he wrote:”While I do accept the ‘it was 50 years ago’ point, and the ‘I was young and young people do stupid and bad things’ point, I don’t accept that the story isn’t true.

“It clearly is true. I would be much more comfortable if there wasn’t an attempt to deny it.”

Labour peer Lord Katz called Tice’s remarks “shameful”.

He posted”Reform dep leader Richard Tice just claimed no one has done more than Nigel Farage to tackle antisemitism, in the same breath rubbishing claims of antisemitism vs Farage from a Jewish man as twaddle. Just shameful.”