A pair of GB News guests locked horns live on air after Nigel Farage was urged to apologise from alleged comments made almost half a century ago.
GB News presenter Olivia Utley was forced to step in as Laila Cunningham and Dr Krish Kandiah debated the allegations of antisemitism made against the Reform UK leader.
The issue was raised once again at the Clacton MP’s Reform UK conference in the very heart of Westminster earlier this week – despite Mr Farage categorically denying the claims last month.
Back in October, the Guardian reported that Mr Farage used antisemitic language as a teenager at Dulwich College.
Peter Ettedgui was one of those who accused Mr Farage, as a 13-year-old, of making comments such as “Hitler was right” or “gas them”. The Reform leader later categorically denied the claims.
“I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published in the Guardian aged 13, nearly 50 years ago,” he said in a statement shared with GB News.
Last week, Mr Farage refused to take a question from a BBC reporter at a Reform UK conference after the journalist raised the matter to the Reform chief once again.
The reporter asked Mr Farage if he was in agreement with his deputy Richard Tice that those who were laying the claims of racism against the leader were lying, Mr Farage said the framing was “despicable”.
The pair butted heads over allegations laid against Mr Farage – despite the leader categorically denying them
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He further accused the national broadcaster of “double standards and hypocrisy” because of the television shows it aired 50 years ago, including Are You Being Served? and It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.
He fumed: “I cannot put up with the double standards of the BBC about what I’m alleged to have said 49 years ago and what you were putting out on mainstream content.”
As a result, Dr Kandiah, speaking on GB News, criticised Mr Farage for failing to take responsibility for his words.
“He obfuscated when he was asked if Richard Tice was right, that the journalist had lied, that those people that had complained at Dulwich College about him had lied,” Dr Kandiah said.
Ms Cunningham locked horns with the GB News guest live on air
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“That’s a credit to Nigel,” Ms Cunningham responded.
“He cannot remember what was said and who – ” at which point she was interrupted by the other guest. “Hang on. You accused him of something quite bad. So let me speak.”
“I didn’t accuse him of anything,” the academic retorted.
“But you said he should apologise. There is absolutely no proof that he said that. He denies he said anything with malice or anything to hurt someone,” Ms Cunningham fired back.
“‘With malice’. Why not just say ‘I didn’t say them’? But he said ‘with malice’,” Dr Kandiah questioned.
“Because that’s a credit to Nigel,” the Reform councillor insisted, although her debating partner claimed that it was obfuscating.
“It’s 45 years ago and he cannot remember his exact words. That’s a credit to him. A memory is not a credit to anyone. I’m sorry, do you remember 45 years ago?”
“Of course I do,” Dr Kandiah claimed. “Well, I remember my school days very well, and I was on the receiving end of some of that racist abuse.”
Ms Cunningham added that she too had been the victim of similar racist abuse during her school years, adding: “I was called a n-word all the time.”
“And how did it make you feel?” the commentator asked.
“I just told them to go away. It didn’t make me feel anything!” Ms Cunningham exclaimed.
Olivia went on to ask whether the denied allegations could pose a serious long-term problem for Nigel Farage’s success in Westminster, at which Ms Cunningham appeared taken aback.
“A serious problem for something he said 45 years ago. Is that a joke?!” she incredulously exclaimed.
“Just say sorry!” Dr Kandiah said, raising his voice. “Just say sorry!”