Richard Tice accused of ‘retraumatising sufferer’ with dismissal of Farage racism declare
Reform’s Deputy Leader Richard Tice drew a furious backlash after he appeared to dismiss allegations against Nigel Farage from a schoolmate whose family fled the Nazis
Richard Tice has been accused of discouraging racism victims from speaking out after he claimed allegations against Nigel Farage from his school days were “made-up twaddle”.
The Reform UK Deputy Leader triggered a furious backlash after appearing to dismiss claims from a director whose family fled the Nazis in a BBC Radio 4 interview last week. Peter Ettedgui, who was 13 at the time, has alleged that the Reform leader would tell him “Hitler was right“, or “Gas them” before adding a hiss to replicate the sound of the gas chambers.
Mr Farage has dismissed the claims, from decades ago – and insisted he would never racially abuse people in a “hurtful or insulting way”. Reform UK has categorically denied the claims and claimed the allegations are part of a smear campaign against the party leader.
READ MORE: Eleven Holocaust survivors demand Nigel Farage tells the truth over Hitler commentsREAD MORE: Nigel Farage loses his cool and launches into anti-BBC rant after question about racism
Lord Mann, the Government’s independent advisor on antisemitism, called on Mr Tice to apologise. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “Richard Tice should apologise for his disgraceful comments.
“He may well have retraumatised a victim of antisemitism who has already suffered enough. To suggest this is a politically motivated attack is as scandalous as it is ridiculous.”
Mr Ettedgui is one of more than a dozen former classmates from Mr Farage’s time at Dulwich College, in south London, who alleged that Mr Farage made pro-Hitler comments. Last week, eleven Holocaust survivors wrote to Mr Farage to demand the truth about what he told classmates.
The group includes Hedi Argent, who lost 27 relatives in Nazi death camps, and Simon Winston, who witnessed unspeakable horrors after being held in the Radzivilov ghetto.
Joani Reid MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group against antisemitism, also hit out at Mr Tice’s defence of his party leader.
The East Kilbride and Strathaven MP said: “Richard Tice alleged that someone who bravely came forward to talk about their experiences of racism is a politically motivated liar.
“Tice appears so desperate to protect his boss, that I believe he has turned the victim-led approach to racism we have in this country on its head.” She added: “His comments may well discourage victims of racism from speaking out. He should apologise or resign.”
Reform UK has been approached for comment.
