Nigel Farage and Reform UK are determined to move on from the allegations about his racist and antisemitic abuse as a Dulwich schoolboy.
They argue the accusations date back fifty years – and that they first emerged more than a decade ago.
But what’s kept them in the spotlight in recent weeks is the inconsistent response from Reform UK.
First, there was an emphatic denial.
Later, a party spokesperson said it was “one person’s word against another.”
Reform’s Deputy Leader, Richard Tice, described the accusations as “made-up twaddle”.
When challenged directly on the allegations in interviews and at press conferences, Farage said he never directly racially abused anyone “with intent” and brought up the language used by TV comedians during the 1970s.
It’s these responses that prompted 26 of Farage’s former Dulwich schoolmates to write to him this week, requesting an apology.
Reform’s response to ITV News’ latest story this week
had Trumpian tones, attacking the “left-wing media” with accusations of a “witch hunt”.
Former Dulwich College student Yinka Bankole on Wednesday told ITV News that Farage racially abused him when he was a student
Also accused of leading that witch hunt is the Labour government.
As it happens every week, Keir Starmer used his latest Prime Minister’s Questions (the last of the year) to attack Reform UK.
And, as become increasingly common, Farage chose to take himself out of the firing line by sitting in the gallery above the chamber, away from the TV cameras.
“Let me say to the member for Clacton relaxing in the lounge,” said the prime minister.
“Christmas is a time for forgiveness. It’s never too late to apologise to former classmates.”
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Labour hopes that these stories start to cut through and voters begin to turn cold on Reform UK, but the opinion polls show little evidence of that yet.
And while Reform’s poll numbers have plateaued in recent months, no party is making any ground on them.
“We are clearly well ahead of every other party and that is sustained and consistent in every single poll that you see,” Reform’s newest MP, Danny Kruger, said earlier this week.
“I’m confident that that will continue.”
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