Nigel Farage faces allegations of directing a racist remark towards a classmate by telling him to “go back to Africa.” Yinka Bankole, who recently joined the same school as Farage when they were teenagers, accused the Reform UK leader of singling him out for abuse. Bankole, whose parents immigrated from Nigeria in the 1950s, decided to share his experience after observing Farage’s apparent dismissal of the pain inflicted on his alleged targets.
During an interview on LBC, Bankole revealed his decision to speak out about the incident that occurred over 40 years ago. He expressed his disbelief at a person like Farage potentially becoming a leader in a diverse and progressive society. When asked if an apology would facilitate moving forward, Bankole emphasized his role in revealing the truth to the public to shed light on the character of individuals seeking public office.
Bankole recounted how Farage would approach him, inquire about his origin, and then abruptly instruct him to return to Africa without acknowledging his humanity or considering his individuality. Farage recently engaged in a heated exchange with a BBC reporter, demanding an apology for alleged racist remarks made by former classmates dating back to the 1970s and 80s. He criticized the BBC for what he perceived as double standards in their reporting.
Former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College in South London alleged that he made pro-Hitler statements, joked about gas chambers, and discriminated against individuals based on their skin color. Farage has denied these claims, asserting that he never racially abused anyone in a derogatory manner. Reform UK has refuted the allegations, labeling them as part of a smear campaign against the party leader.
Reform UK has been contacted for a response regarding the allegations.