Nigel Farage blasts BBC of hypocrisy for airing offensive sitcoms within the Nineteen Seventies
The Reform leader was miffed after being asked about allegations he abused people at school. He accused the BBC of “double standards and hypocrisy
Nigel Farage blasted the BBC as hypocrites for airing offensive sitcoms in the past after a reporter quizzed him over historic racism claims.
The Reform leader was miffed after being asked about allegations he abused people at school. He accused the BBC of “double standards and hypocrisy” because of television shows including Are You Being Served? and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
It comes after his former classmate Peter Ettedgui, who is Jewish, claims he was “tormented” by him for years. Others have also alleged he targeted them.
Mr Farage was asked if his accusers were lying, to which he replied: “I cannot put up with the double standards of the BBC about what I’m alleged to have said 49 years ago and what you were putting out on mainstream content.
“So, I want an apology from the BBC for virtually everything you did throughout the 1970s and 80s.”
He slammed the questions as “despicable” as he went on to read a letter he claimed was from another classmate.
Reading it aloud, the politician said: “I was a Jewish pupil at Dulwich College at the same time and I remember him very well.
“While there was plenty of macho tongue-in-cheek schoolboy banter, it was humour, and yes, sometimes it was offensive, but never with malice.
“I never heard him racially abuse anyone. If he had, he would have been reported and punished. He wasn’t. The news stories are without evidence, except for belatedly, politically dubious recollections from nearly half a century ago.
“Back in the 1970s the culture was very different. Especially at Dulwich. Lots of boys said things they’d regret today or just laugh at. Whilst Nigel stood out, he was neither aggressive nor a racist.”
He said he had “plenty” of similar messages over the last few days.
