8 h. ago Farage brands BBC ‘despicable’ after tense clash over antisemitism allegations

Reform UK leader insisted at a press conference that he had never said anything racist ‘with malice’

Politics

16 h. ago Reform deputy leader dismisses claims of Farage’s past racism as new witnesses come forward

Richard Tice says testimony by about two dozen people about party leader’s school days is ‘made-up twaddle’Reform UK’s deputy leader has described a celebrated film director and a large and growing group of corroborating witnesses as liars over their allegations of Nigel Farage’s teenage antisemitism and racism.With the bigotry row continuing to dog Reform, whose lead in the national polls has slipped in recent weeks, Richard Tice turned on those who claimed to have been abused and those who say they saw it. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Antisemitism allegations against the teenage Farage matter – look at what he went on to do | Jonathan Freedland

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 too...

Politics

6 d. ago Sadiq Khan recalls past abuse as he urges Nigel Farage to apologise over racism claims

Exclusive: London mayor says allegations of teenage racism against Reform leader remind him of being called P-wordOpinion: Antisemitism allegations against the teenage Farage matter – look at what he went on to do Sadiq Khan has spoken of his dismay at Nigel Farage’s “desperate” denials of allegations of teenage racism as he described how his experience as a child shaped his life.The mayor of London said testimony from more than 20 individuals who made allegations about the Reform leader had summoned memories of his own past. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Starmer calls Farage ‘spineless’ over tackling racism in Reform party

Prime minister says Reform UK leader has ‘questions to answer’ about alleged comments at school which included songs about HolocaustKeir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage of being “spineless” when it comes to tackling racism in his party after the Guardian revealed allegations he made xenophobic and antisemitic comments while he was at school.The prime minister said the Reform UK leader had “questions to answer” about the comments and chants alleged, which included songs about the Holocaust and accusations of bullying towards ethnic minority schoolboys. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Starmer calls Farage ‘spineless’ over failure to tackle racism in Reform party

PM says Reform UK leader also has ‘questions to answer’ about alleged racist comments and chants when at school UK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has accused Nigel Farage of being “spineless” when it comes to tackling racism in his party after the Guardian revealed allegations he made xenophobic and antisemitic comments while he was at school.The prime minister said the Reform UK leader had “questions to answer” about the alleged comments and chants, which include songs about the Holocaust and accusations of bullying towards minority ethnic schoolboys. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Vatican investigates Swiss Guard after allegations of an antisemitic incident in St. Peter's Square

The Vatican has launched an investigation into a possible antisemitic incident involving a Swiss Guard

Economics

4 w. ago Surge in antisemitism investigations at US universities after October 7 attacks, data shows

A report shared exclusively with the Guardian documents how a civil rights law has become a tool to impose ideological priorities on US schoolsUS government investigations into universities over antisemitism allegations surged following the 7 October 2023 attacks and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza, with more investigations open in the last two months of that year than in the two decades prior, according to a report published on Monday that was shared exclusively with the Guardian.The data, compiled by the Middle East Studies Association and the American Association of University Professors and relying on publicly available records, offers a detailed account of how landmark civil rights legislation – and particularly Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act – has become a primary tool to restrict speech on campus. Continue reading...

Events