Farage’s Dark Past: Teacher Breaks Silence on Dulwich Racism Scandal

The political career of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage faces its most significant historical reckoning as Chloë Deakin, a former English teacher at the prestigious Dulwich College, has come forward with a stinging rebuke of his past behavior. Breaking decades of silence, Deakin confirmed that the allegations of racism and "neo-fascist" leanings were not mere schoolboy "banter," but a deep-seated pattern of behavior that left a lasting impact on the school community. Deakin, who taught at the college in the early 1980s, recalled the moment Farage’s name first surfaced in her classroom, not for academic achievement, but as a specific perpetrator of bullying against younger students.

The controversy centers on a 1981 letter written by Deakin to the then-master of Dulwich College, David Emms. In this correspondence, which has now been fully corroborated by the author, Deakin argued vehemently against Farage’s appointment as a school prefect. She cited reports from colleagues and students alleging that Farage had publicly professed racist views and had even been seen "goose-stepping" and singing Hitler Youth songs during a Combined Cadet Force (CCF) camp. Despite these warnings from Deakin and other staff members, the school leadership at the time dismissed Farage’s actions as those of a "naughty" but ultimately harmless boy, a decision that eventually led to Deakin’s resignation from the institution.

The Weight of Evidence: Over 30 Witnesses Speak Out

The narrative surrounding Farage’s youth has shifted from isolated anecdotes to a collective outcry. More than 30 former contemporaries from Dulwich College have now provided testimony to journalists, describing a persistent environment of racial and antisemitic abuse. These witnesses allege that Farage targeted minority students with specific, vitriolic comments, including telling one peer that he should go "back to Africa." While Farage has recently attempted to frame these incidents as "banter" that would be viewed differently in the modern era, the sheer volume of consistent accounts suggests a targeted and malicious campaign against specific individuals based on their race or religion.

The impact of these revelations has been compounded by the response of Holocaust survivors and former classmates, 26 of whom recently signed an open letter calling for a formal apology. Deakin herself emphasized that the behavior described was singular and far exceeded the bounds of typical teenage "high jinks." She noted that Farage’s apparent fascination with the National Front—reportedly reveling in the fact that he shared the same initials—was a matter of grave concern to the staff common room even forty years ago.

Denials and the Defense of "Banter"

In the face of these mounting allegations, Nigel Farage and the Reform UK leadership have maintained a stance of total denial or deflection. Farage’s legal team initially threatened litigation, while the leader himself told the BBC that while he may have said things that were "naughty," he never intended to hurt anyone directly. Deputy leader Richard Tice has dismissed the accounts as "made-up twaddle" designed to smear the party’s rising poll numbers. However, Deakin’s testimony provides a crucial bridge between the past and the present, as her letter was written in 1981, long before Farage became a household name or a political figure, effectively nullifying claims of a modern political "hit job."

Now 74, Deakin’s motivation for speaking out is rooted in what she describes as a responsibility to the truth and the victims of bullying. She rejected the "leftist" label previously applied to her by school administrators, stating she has never belonged to a political party. Her focus remains on the "painfully authentic" accounts of the men who, decades later, still carry the shame of being targeted by a peer who would go on to influence the national stage. As the public weighs these historical accounts against Farage’s current leadership, the question remains whether a straightforward apology will ever be issued to those who claim their school years were defined by his alleged prejudice.

Source Credit: This report was adapted and edited from original reporting by The Guardian (Chief Reporter Daniel Boffey) for the readers of Daily Dazzling Dawn.