Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of past racist and antisemitic behavior during his time at Dulwich College. These claims have prompted a former pupil, Yinka Bankole, to speak out publicly, recounting an incident from over four decades ago that he says has deeply impacted him.

Yinka Bankole, who was nine years old when he started at Dulwich College in 1980, claims that a 17-year-old Farage singled him out for abuse. Bankole, whose parents immigrated to the UK from Nigeria in the 1950s, recalled being approached by Farage and at least one other student in the lower-school playground. Farage allegedly asked him where he was from, and upon Bankole's confused response, pointed "towards a place far away" and declared, "That’s the way back to Africa." Bankole stated that once his "existence as a target was established," Farage would repeatedly wait at the school gate to repeat the "vulgarity," leaving him with a vivid memory of "a look of hatred he had for me, seemingly simply for existing." He felt compelled to share his full story after Farage's recent attempts to "denying or dismissing" the hurt of his alleged targets, describing Farage's defense as the "most amazingly disingenuous example" and "the final straw."

In response to these and other allegations, Farage has adopted a defensive strategy that observers, including Steven Barnett, a professor of communications at the University of Westminster, have likened to the "Trump playbook." This approach involves "turning defence into attack" and mirrors tactics used by figures like Donald Trump. Farage has claimed he never acted with "malice" and dismissed comments from over four decades ago as "banter" that might be viewed differently today, denying he said anything "directly" or "with intent" to hurt. Bankole, however, asserted, "I know how I experienced it. It certainly felt malicious to me." Farage has also questioned the ability of individuals to recall events from the 1970s and early 1980s, to which Bankole responded, "can a victim of such abuse ever forget? I know I haven’t forgotten."

Farage's "Trump-like" tactics, as identified by political critics and analysts, include several key components. Firstly, threats to sue: Reform UK's barrister initially threatened legal proceedings, an injunction, a public retraction, and maximum damages if the Guardian published allegations against Farage, claiming they were "defamatory, and malicious." Secondly, denial: The initial response from Reform UK was a categorical denial, although Farage's own narrative has shifted to acknowledging possible "banter." Thirdly, attacking the accusers: Farage and his deputy, Richard Tice, have targeted the integrity of accusers, such as Emmy- and Bafta-winning director Peter Ettedgui, who alleged Farage repeatedly said "Hitler was right." Farage suggests a "strong political element" behind these claims, despite most of the 28 school contemporaries corroborating the behavior having no political ties. Ettedgui emphasized his motivation was "deeply personal." Lastly, bombarding and targeting the media: Farage's press conferences have seen him launch tirades against outlets like the BBC and ITV, accusing them of "double standards and hypocrisy" for questioning him. He threatened to boycott the BBC and personally attacked presenter Emma Barnett, also citing old television shows like "Are You Being Served?" and comedian Bernard Manning's material to deflect criticism. Matthew McGregor, CEO of 38 Degrees, noted that these tactics aim to distract the public and reinforce an image of Farage as a "plucky underdog."

Beyond Farage's personal allegations, Reform UK has also faced internal controversies regarding racist and offensive conduct. Recently, Nigel Farage revoked the party membership of Ian Cooper, a Reform UK council leader, following an investigation into undeclared social media accounts. Cooper allegedly made highly inflammatory online remarks, including calling London mayor Sadiq Khan a "narcissistic Pakistani" and claiming migrants were "intent on colonising the UK, destroying all that has gone before." He is also alleged to have written that "No foreign national or first generation migrant should be allowed to sit in parliament" in a post attacking Justice Secretary David Lammy, and abused lawyer Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, calling her "Dr Shaga Bing-Bong" and suggesting she "F’d off back to Nigeria." Cooper also allegedly told broadcaster Sangita Myska she was "English only in your dreams" and lacked an "ethnically, culturally or historically English" background. These posts, initially revealed by Hope Not Hate, led to Cooper's removal from his party role and leadership of Staffordshire county council.

These incidents are not isolated within Reform UK. Last month, two other party politicians were suspended for offensive messages: Laura Anne Jones, a Senedd member, for using a racial slur in a discussion about China and TikTok, and councillor Tom Pickup for calling Keir Starmer a "dicktaker" and alleged involvement in a WhatsApp group discussing "mass Islam genocide." These ongoing controversies highlight a broader pattern of alleged inappropriate behavior and problematic discourse within the party, further intensifying scrutiny on Nigel Farage and Reform UK's public image and political stance.