Dulwich college’s headteacher has responded to allegations of teenage racism by Nigel Farage by saying he recognised the “seriousness of the behaviours described in the media”.
Robert Milne, who joined the school as its “master” this summer, said the alleged behaviour was “at odds” with the modern-day school in a letter in which he said he understood why 28 former pupils had felt compelled to speak out.
Milne was responding to a letter from Jean-Pierre Lihou, a former friend of Farage’s at school, who claims he witnessed abusive chanting and the targeting of Peter Ettedgui, today a successful film director, with antisemitic abuse.
Farage has denied “directly” abusing school contemporaries while adding that some of his “banter” may be interpreted differently today.
The deputy leader of Reform, Richard Tice, went further by describing those who made claims as liars, although he appeared to backtrack on Wednesday by telling LBC “some recollections may vary”.
Milne said he was grateful to Lihou for contacting him over the claims “even – and perhaps especially – when what they describe is painful or difficult”.
“I am very sorry to hear how troubling recent reports have been for you,” he wrote. “We fully recognise the seriousness of the behaviours described in the media, and we understand why you and others who were at the college during that period have felt compelled to speak out.
“Allegations of racist and antisemitic conduct are profoundly distressing, and it is important to say clearly that such behaviour is wholly incompatible with the values the college holds.”
In response to Milne’s comments, Farage, who is a former captain of the school’s old boys’ golf team, said in a statement to the Guardian that the master’s comments were “uninformed”.
He said: “I have not met or spoken to this master. So I am surprised by his uninformed comments in response to claims from nearly 50 years ago from politically motivated actors.
“If he is interested, I can show him the many messages that I have received from fellow pupils, including Jewish ones, that entirely contradict these allegations.”
A number of those who have made claims of persistent abusive behaviour by Farage at school, running from the age of 13 to 18, have been concerned by the lack of comment from Dulwich college since the allegations were first made.
Milne wrote: “To protect the college’s reputation in the long term, we have avoided making public statements in response to individual reports. This should not be interpreted as indifference: safeguarding the college’s good name and upholding its values are of paramount importance to us.
“I appreciate that this can appear like silence, but the intention is to act responsibly and protect the long-term interests of the college and its community. What we can unequivocally state is that the behaviours described are entirely at odds with the Dulwich college of today.”
Milne said the modern school had “robust” policies on “equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as strong anti-bullying measures”.
Milne added: “I want to reassure you that the college takes these matters extremely seriously, and that our approach is guided by a genuine commitment to our values and to the wellbeing of the whole community – past and present. I hope this offers some clarity, though I appreciate that these issues evoke strong feelings for many alumni.”
Lihou, 61, said: “As a former pupil and boarder at the school, I wrote to Dulwich college a week ago. I can say I am very pleased to have received a reply from the current master that the Dulwich of today has a very clear commitment to dignity, respect and to their processes to ensure that no repeat of the horrific racism and antisemitic bullying directed at the numerous people that have come forward can happen again.”
A Reform spokesperson said: “This witch-hunt is merely an attempt to discredit Reform and Nigel Farage. Instead of debating Reform on the substance of our ideas and policies, the leftwing media and deeply unpopular Labour party are now using 50-year-old smears in a last act of desperation. The British public see right through it.”
