Nine Holocaust survivors demand Nigel Farage tells the reality over Hitler feedback
In a letter to the Reform UK leader, nine Holocaust survivors demanded Nigel Farage reveals whether he did tell classmates ‘Hitler was right’ – saying: ‘This moment is about moral responsibility’
Nine Holocaust survivors have written to Nigel Farage demanding he tells the truth about whether he told classmates “Hitler was right”.
The group includes Hedi Argent, who lost 27 relatives in Nazi death camps, and Simon Winston, who witness unspeakable horrors after being held in the Radzivilov ghetto. It comes after 20 former schoolboys who attended Dulwich College with Mr Farage alleged he made racist and antisemitic remarks.
The letter, published in The Guardian, states: “Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter. Not in a playground. Not anywhere.
Scroll down to read the letter in full
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“When allegations arise about invoking Nazi attitudes toward Jewish children, the responsible response is honesty, reflection, and commitment to truth.”
And it asks him directly: “Did you say “Hitler was right” and “gas them,” mimicking gas chambers? Did you subject your classmates to antisemitic abuse?”
The survivors then wrote: “If you deny saying those words, are you saying that 20 former classmates and teachers are lying? If you did say them, now is the time to acknowledge you were wrong, and apologise.
“Those who hope to lead our country should never divide people by race or religion. Antisemitic hatred must never be normalised. This moment is about moral responsibility.”
Mr Farage has faced a barrage of questions after the allegations came to light. On Thursday Reform’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, dismissed the claims as “made up twaddle”. But Mr Farage later described them as “alleged” remarks in a bad-tempered press conference. He then proceeded to read out a letter which said he had made “offensive” comments – but that it was not done through malice.
Last month he told reporters: “I’ve never directly really tried to go and hurt anybody. Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground that you could interpret in a modern light of day in some sort of way? Yes.
“Have I ever misspoken in my life in my younger days when I was a child? Probably. I would say to you, there is a strong political element to this.”
In a combative press conference on Thursday, Mr Farage read out a letter he said he had received from a fellow Dulwich schoolboy. It said: “While there was plenty of macho tongue in cheek schoolboy banter, it was humour. And yes, sometimes it was offensive – rather like most of the BBC’s output – but never with malice.
“I never heard him racially abuse anyone. If he had, he would have been reported and punished. He wasn’t.”
Challenged on whether he’d apologise for offence caused – after the letter appeared to confirm it – Mr Farage admitted he says offensive things everyday.
“I’ve said offensive things today,” he said. “If I genuinely thought I’d hurt somebody I would apologise of course. I’ve never, ever, in my nature, been a bully of any kind at all.”
Mr Farage’s former classmate, Peter Ettedgui, is among those who have accused him of making racist remarks to him during their school days. Mr Ettedgui, who is Jewish, has claimed that Mr Farage had “repeatedly” approached him and said “Hitler was right”, while they were pupils at the school.
The letter in full
Dear Nigel Farage,
As Holocaust survivors, we understand the danger of hateful words – because we have seen where such words lead.
20 former schoolmates and teachers have alleged that, as a pupil, you used racist slurs. Others recall repeated racial abuse. You have dismissed these accounts as “banter in a playground.”
Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter. Not in a playground. Not anywhere.
When allegations arise about invoking Nazi attitudes toward Jewish children, the responsible response is honesty, reflection, and commitment to truth.
So we ask you:
Did you say “Hitler was right” and “gas them,” mimicking gas chambers? Did you subject your classmates to antisemitic abuse?
If you deny saying those words, are you saying that 20 former classmates and teachers are lying? If you did say them, now is the time to acknowledge you were wrong, and apologise.
Those who hope to lead our country should never divide people by race or religion. Antisemitic hatred must never be normalised.
This moment is about moral responsibility.
The choice is yours, Mr Farage.
Yours,
- Janine Webber
- Hedi Argent
- Simon Winston
- Edith Jayne
- Helen Aronson
- Ruth Barnett
- John Fieldsend
- Anita Lasker-Wallfisch
- Susan Pollack
Holocaust survivors
