Nigel Farage made ‘non-apology’, says school contemporary who accused him of racism
Nigel Farage has been accused of making a “non-apology” by a school contemporary who accused him of racist and antisemitic behaviour, after saying he was “sorry” if he had “genuinely” hurt anyone.For the first time since the row broke after a Guardian investigation, the Reform UK party leader appeared to indicate some remorse for the impact of his alleged behaviour while at Dulwich college, a private school in south London.“I think there are two people who said they were hurt, and if they genuinely were, then that’s a pity, and I’m sorry,” Farage said in an interview with the BBC.“But never, ever did I intend to hurt anybody.Never have.
”The comments were made in an interview with the presenter Laura Kuenssberg for a documentary about the rise of his party, which is leading in the opinion polls.In a series of stories in recent months, the Guardian has reported the testimonies of 34 school contemporaries who say they witnessed or were subject to Farage’s alleged racist or antisemitic behaviour.Among the alleged victims was the Emmy and Bafta-winning film-maker Peter Ettedgui, who alleged that Farage would regularly taunt him with antisemitic comments, including that “Hitler was right”.In response to Farage’s latest comments, Ettedgui said the Reform leader needed to explain why his initial response had been to outright deny the detailed claims of a large cohort of people.He said: “Thirty-four people have given our first-hand accounts of Nigel Farage’s abusive behaviour at Dulwich college, including students who either suffered or witnessed it, as well as teachers.
“Every single one of us vividly recalls Farage’s racist, xenophobic and antisemitic bullying, as well as his vocal admiration for fascist leaders from Hitler to Mosley.“This profoundly offensive conduct continued unabated throughout his teenage years until we left school at 18, and it went far beyond what was considered normal or acceptable – even in the 1970s.“Farage’s ‘non-apology’ today at least differs from previous lamentable attempts to excuse his racist insults as ‘banter’, or to smear those of us who have spoken up as liars or fantasists.”Ettedgui said “urgent questions” remained given that Farage was seeking to be prime minister.He said: “Why has he continually denied the repugnant behaviour so many of his schoolmates recall, rather than acknowledging and apologising sincerely for it?”Ettedgui also questioned to “what extent has his political agenda today been shaped by the racist views he expressed so vociferously at Dulwich?”Farage had initially threatened legal action against the Guardian and denied any racist or antisemitic conduct.
He later suggested that his behaviour would have been seen as “banter” four decades ago but might be seen differently today.In his interview with Kuenssberg, Farage maintained that his behaviour would not have been out of place in 1970s Britain.He said: “I tell you what, if teenage boys together at an all-boys school haven’t said things to each other, haven’t been brutal in some ways in the late 1970s, I’d be very, very surprised.“Also I’ve had lots and lots of supportive texts, including from two Jewish students in my A-level set.There were all sorts of things going on amongst teenage kids in a boys’ environment.
Was there ever anything intentional or with the intent to wound or hurt? Genuinely? No, absolutely not.”
PM says he knew when giving Mandelson US job he had kept ties with Epstein after conviction
Keir Starmer has confirmed for the first time he knew about Peter Mandelson’s longer-term relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before appointing him US ambassador, saying the former peer had “lied repeatedly” about the extent of his contact with the child sex offender.Questioned repeatedly at prime minister’s questions, Starmer said Mandelson had “betrayed our country” in his dealings with Epstein.“He lied repeatedly to my team, when asked about his relationship with Epstein before and during his tenure as ambassador,” the prime minister said. “I regret appointing him. If I knew then what I know now, he would never been anywhere near government
Starmer orders release of files relating to Mandelson US ambassador decision
Keir Starmer will attempt to get ahead of the widening scandal over Peter Mandelson’s conduct with the expected release of files relating to his appointment as Britain’s US ambassador, in what a minister has described as “drawing a line in the sand”.The Conservatives had been preparing to force the publication of the records – including what Mandelson may have told Starmer about his relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before being appointed to Washington – with a motion in the Commons.Rather than face a difficult vote amid anger among his own MPs, the prime minister has ordered the publication of those records – emails, documents and messages – apart from those deemed prejudicial to national security or that could damage diplomatic relations.It is understood the government’s intention is to be transparent while avoiding a situation where all the communications get published.A government amendment to the Conservatives’ motion that would compel the release of the documents is expected to pass
A whiff of familiarity in Mandelson’s 2009 collusion with the banks
Today’s advocates of a windfall tax on the UK’s highly profitable banking sector detected a whiff of familiarity in Peter Mandelson’s suggestion, back in 2009, that JP Morgan should “mildly threaten” the chancellor.Feeding a Wall Street financier market sensitive titbits was an extraordinary breach of trust – perhaps even illegal, it seems – but for Labour veterans of the financial crisis, Mandelson’s collusion with the banks against his own colleagues was the worst betrayal.The then business secretary told Jeffrey Epstein by email that he was “trying hard” to change government policy on a bankers’ bonus tax; and appeared to recommend a fresh round of lobbying, suggesting the JP Morgan boss Jamie Dimon press the then chancellor, Alistair Darling.The economic backdrop today is dramatically different from the depths of the banking crisis. But the clash between progressive policies and the powerful financial sector laid bare in the Epstein emails is still evident – and as in the case of Dimon, even some of the characters are the same
Tories seek disclosure of vetting process for Mandelson’s ambassador role
Keir Starmer could be forced to disclose confidential vetting documents from Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, with the Tories set to trigger a rare Commons vote to compel their release.Labour MPs have indicated they are not prepared to oppose the Conservative motion – known as a humble address – that would disclose the details of the vetting process and what if anything was known about Mandelson’s links to the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.Kemi Badenoch plans to use the arcane parliamentary procedure on Wednesday to force the release of files relating to the appointment of Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US.In a dramatic move that will put pressure on Starmer’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, Badenoch said she would use the procedure to uncover “why the proper vetting never happened”.Badenoch is expected to say that Labour MPs have a choice to “support our efforts to reveal the truth about how and why Peter Mandelson was appointed ambassador to Washington despite his known links to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein” or to help Starmer and McSweeney “dodge scrutiny over this sordid affair”
Met police launch investigation into alleged Mandelson-Epstein email leaks – as it happened
A criminal investigation has been launched into allegations Peter Mandelson passed market-sensitive information to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, police said on Tuesday evening.Commander Ella Marriott, from the Metropolitan Police, said: “Following the further release of millions of court documents in relation to Jeffrey Epstein by the United States Department of Justice, the Met received a number of reports into alleged misconduct in public office including a referral from the UK Government.“I can confirm that the Metropolitan Police has now launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former Government Minister, for misconduct in public office offences.“The Met will continue to assess all relevant information brought to our attention as part of this investigation and won’t be commenting any further at this time.”Mandelson has previously said: “I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction [in 2008 for procuring a child for prostitution and of soliciting a prostitute] and to continue my association with him afterwards
What does the criminal investigation mean for Peter Mandelson?
The Met police have launched a criminal investigation into Peter Mandelson after fresh disclosures from the Jeffrey Epstein files. Which laws could he potentially be accused of breaking and on what basis?The Met has said it received a number of reports relating to possible misconduct in public office. The Scottish National party and Reform UK reported Mandelson to the police to investigate any possible offences. Emily Thornberry, the Labour chair of the foreign affairs select committee, also said she believed his apparent actions should merit a criminal inquiry.The Met confirmed on Tuesday night that it had “launched an investigation into a 72-year-old man, a former government minister, for misconduct in public office offences”
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