Teachers are “poisoning our kids” by telling them that black children are victims and white children are oppressors, Nigel Farage has claimed.
The Reform UK leader spoke about his fears for British schooling at an event for a private US Christian college in Michigan.
He claimed a Reform UK election victory would see teachers go on strike within weeks.
“I’m anticipating a teachers’ strike very quickly after winning the next general election,” he said during a question-and-answer session at the event.
“They are poisoning our kids. They are telling them to be ashamed of their country.
“They are telling little Johnny, who’s eight, who is black, that he is a victim, and little Oliver, who is white, who is eight, that he is an oppressor.
“They are dividing us, not uniting us. They are feeding this negative culture in.”
Reform UK is yet to set out a detailed education agenda, but Mr Farage’s remarks suggest a radical one is in the offing.
He told attendees at the Hillsdale College event that the party would overhaul the system and curriculum as part of a “Herculean” effort.
“We can’t do it in six months or a year,” Mr Farage said, as he played down the prospect of a rapid revamp should he win the keys to Number 10.
“It will take us years—years—to turn this around.”
He blasted millennials as “absolutely hopeless” but said Gen Z was more open to critical thinking.
Nigel Farage fears children are being ‘poisoned’ with Marxist theories in British schools
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PAReform UK would set about imposing a radical educationo agenda, Mr Farage appeared to suggest
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PAIn response, the General Secretary of the National Education Union hit out at Mr Farage’s remarks.
Daniel Kebede told The Guardian that he was guilty of “dog-whistle politics,” comparing him to US President Donald Trump.
“I think that’s grossly irresponsible. I don’t—and nor does my union, nor does the teaching profession—push critical race theory. He’s suggesting that, should he become Prime Minister, he would sell out our public services, including education.
“He would be a disaster for education and children.”
Teachers would go on strike within weeks of a Reform UK Government, Nigel Farage said
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GETTYThe Reform UK leader has previously accused Mr Kebede of being a “self-declared Marxist.”
He said the education leader is “absolutely determined that our children should be poisoned at school—their minds should be poisoned about everything to do with this country.”
Mr Farage fears schools could be brought to a halt in the event of a Reform UK government.
The last time such disruptions were experienced was in 2023, when national strikes over teacher pay and conditions caused days of lost learning for children.
The Reform UK leader praised Hillsdale, a private Christian college, for being part of the “fightback.”
The institution offers free courses, and its website says: “A scientific, literary, theological, political, and moral education is necessary for personal happiness and to perpetuate the blessings of civil and religious liberty.
“Hillsdale College furnishes these beautiful courses for free to all who wish to learn and enjoy those blessings.”
Reform UK continues to fly in the polls, with Labour and the Conservatives lying in their wake.
A recent poll by Find Out Now shows they have lost support, but their projected parliamentary majority has increased regardless.
The Tories drew level with Labour on 17 per cent—a hefty surge from a lowly three per cent.
The Green Party also enjoyed a rise to 15 per cent, overtaking the Liberal Democrats on 12 per cent.
The left-wing party’s momentum could be explained by its recent leadership change, with Zack Polanski taking the reins.
Reform, meanwhile, remain ahead by a healthy margin on 32 per cent—a total that would hand them 391 seats in the Commons.
Labour would slump to just 50 seats, making it the third-largest party behind the Liberal Democrats, who are projected to maintain their 72-seat total.
The Tories, despite their polling surge, would end up with a catastrophically low total of just 27 seats should such a result occur.