Antisemitism allegations against the teenage Farage matter – look at what he went on to do | Jonathan Freedland
In a recent article by Jonathan Freedland for The Guardian, the spotlight is cast on Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, and his troubling associations with figures in the U.S. who promote conspiracy theories, particularly those targeting Jewish communities. The article reveals a disturbing narrative from Farage’s past, where more than 20 former schoolmates recounted instances of antisemitic behavior during their time together. Allegations include Farage taunting a Jewish classmate with phrases like “Hitler was right” and engaging in mockery that echoed the horrors of the Holocaust. This troubling history raises questions about Farage’s present-day political alliances and the broader implications of such rhetoric becoming increasingly mainstream within the MAGA movement in the United States.
Freedland argues that Farage had an opportunity to address these allegations directly and potentially quell the controversy by issuing a straightforward apology. Instead, his silence or failure to confront the accusations head-on allows the narrative to linger and raises concerns about the normalization of antisemitism in political discourse. The article emphasizes that while Farage’s comments may have originated decades ago, the resurgence of similar ideologies in contemporary politics cannot be overlooked. The implications of this normalization are particularly alarming, as it reflects a growing acceptance of extremist views within certain political circles, not just in the U.K. but also across the Atlantic in the U.S. This trend calls for a closer examination of how political leaders engage with their past and the responsibilities they bear in shaping public discourse today.
The article serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability in political leadership and the need for society to confront and challenge antisemitism and hate in all its forms. As the political landscape evolves, the intersection of history, identity, and ideology becomes increasingly significant, urging voters and leaders alike to reflect on the values they uphold and promote.
Farage has cosied up to US figures who espoused conspiracy theories about Jews. That kind of talk is becoming alarmingly mainstream on the Maga right
Nigel Farage could have strangled this story at birth. Confronted with the testimony of
more than 20 former schoolmates
, who shared with the Guardian their memories of a young Farage taunting Jews and other minorities in the most appalling terms – telling a Jewish pupil that “
Hitler was right
”, singing “Gas ’em all” and making a hissing sound to simulate lethal gas – he could have said: “I have no memory of what’s been described, but such behaviour would of course have been atrocious and if I was involved in any way, I am genuinely sorry.”
Sure, it would have been more of an “
ifpology
” than an apology, its admission of guilt wholly conditional, but it would surely have closed the story down. Reassured that the Reform UK leader had declared racist and antisemitic abuse unacceptable, most observers would have allowed that these events took place half a century ago and moved on.
Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist
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