A former schoolmate of Nigel Farage has publicly accused the Reform UK leader of being a "racist, obnoxious bully" during their time at Dulwich College, directly challenging Farage's dismissal of multiple allegations as "fantasy".
First-Hand Account of Alleged Abuse
Rickard Berg, a Swedish musician and producer, has come forward with his personal experiences, stating he was repeatedly targeted by Farage because of his nationality. Berg recalls Farage telling him to "go home, back to your own country" in a classroom overlooking the science block. He emphasises this was not playground banter, but deliberate harassment that required effort within Dulwich's vast grounds.
Berg describes Farage's persona at school as "negative, destructive and intolerant of anything non-British". He suggests Farage, who was "not really very good at anything" academically or socially, adopted vitriol as a means to get noticed. Berg states Farage, nicknamed 'Fudge', would single out individuals based on skin colour, nationality, or religion, operating as a bully who faced little threat of retribution.
Farage's Evolving Denials and Berg's Motivation
The allegations first emerged in a Guardian investigation, prompting an initial outright denial from Farage. As more witnesses came forward, his response shifted to claims of harmless "banter". Now, with 34 alleged witnesses and victims having spoken out, Farage has labelled much of the testimony "fantasy" and politically motivated.
Berg strongly rejects this characterisation. "My motivation is not political," he asserts. He argues that by choosing a public career, Farage opened himself to personal scrutiny, and his failure to honestly acknowledge his past behaviour is insulting to former pupils. Berg contends that Farage calling his accusers liars is "bullying those who were hurt by him all over again".
Corroborating Testimony and Lasting Impact
Berg references the testimony of award-winning filmmaker Peter Ettedgui, who alleges Farage would hiss "Hitler was right" and "gas them" into his ear. Ettedgui has family members who were murdered in the Holocaust. Berg also recalls Farage entering a classroom to sing an antisemitic song about killing Jews and minority ethnic people.
For Berg, these events are unforgettable and the reason he has moved beyond sharing the stories privately with friends. He concludes that Farage's response to the accounts suggests the Reform UK leader hasn't changed much, remaining in his view a "spineless little person incapable of making anything better".
