WATCH: Nigel Farage declares Peter Ettedgui's 'recollections are wrong'

Now, to repeat the breaking news for you this evening

moments ago, Nigel Farage issued a statement regarding The Guardian newspaper's racism allegations against him

and the Reform UK leader told GB News this. 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

Isn't it interesting? I'm probably the most scrutinised figure in British politics

having been in public life for 32 years. Several books and thousands of stories have been written about me

but it is only now that my party is leading in the polls that these allegations come out

The Guardian's most recent reporting has claimed that as many as 20 former fellow students of Nigel Farage

suggested that he was racist and anti-Semitic whilst at school. Now, among those who have accused Farage of racist behaviour

at Dulwich College was the director, Peter Etagui, who has spoken to the BBC tonight

claiming Nigel Farage's denials are dishonest. Well, we'll now discuss this. And these allegations is the man himself, Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage, welcome to GBA News tonight. Very, very serious allegations dating back now over 50 years

have suddenly resurfaced. What's your response to them? Well, I did not say those things to that individual categorically

And as for other people coming out and saying things, Well, we've been having a look today. I mean, one of them was the leader of Kent County Council until he was deposed this year

Another is leader of the Lib Dems on Salisbury Council. So, look, there's a very large political element to this

And as you well know, you know, even to question immigration numbers is in the book of some people a racist statement

And I think it was the same back in the 1970s, too. But I absolutely deny the charges that are made by this one individual This one individual has also spoken to the BBC this evening just before we came on broadcast Peter Ettegui and he said the most vivid memories of his school life were those comments

which bear repeating about gassing Jews and Hitler was right. And he called you fundamentally dishonest

Is it your opinion that he's being fundamentally dishonest? Is this a case of recollections may vary or is he lying

Look, had what he said been true, do you think I'd have been promoted in the sixth year to be a prefect

Do you think I'd have become a senior member of the school if they really thought, if the school knew and thought

any of that stuff was true? And I'd point out, beyond him, and his recollections are wrong

beyond him, all the others say is they disagree with me politically

which is perhaps not a huge surprise. I would say this to you, though. You know, in a long career in public life that lasts over 30 years

I've done more in this country to defeat the BNP, to defeat the far right

I didn't even take the money from Elon Musk earlier this year because he wanted me to associate with Tommy Robinson

I have been the force in British politics fighting against racism and against extremism

And it's only, you know, when you get near the target of perhaps winning a general election

that all this stuff comes out. So you are clearly intimating tonight that those recollections are incorrect and you

are stating with certainty that this is a politically motivated attack because, for example, you

say one of your opponents here is the current chair of the Salisbury Liberal Democrats

Yes, and you have a former Conservative leader of Kent County Council. It is very, very political

but we have to understand that there are people that appear on GB News who will say things

that some out there in the wider world take serious offence to and they use the racist word about it It doesn mean it true It just the way people approach things these days I categorically deny saying those things to that one individual and frankly frankly for The Guardian and the BBC to be going back

just shy of half a century to come out with this stuff. It shows how desperate they are

Nigel Farage, this evening The Guardian are saying that you're changing your tune

about how you responded yesterday, where you are saying, well, maybe these things happen

I'm not quite sure, whereas today you're saying categorically... No, no. Go on

What I said was, have I ever said things that were offensive

Have I ever said things at school or since that offended people without any shadow of a doubt

I probably have done today half a dozen times. But did I say this specific thing to that one individual

Well, the answer to that is a very clear no. Roger Farage, on the accusations of anti-Semitism

isn't it fair to point out that you've been a very vocal supporter

of Israel and the Jewish community since October 7th, 2023? Well, let's go way back before that, shall we

You know, the Jewish owner of the Daily Express came out as a big supporter of myself, of UKIP

made a big donation to UKIP when I was running it. I mean, my lawyer, you know, has been with me for a decade and a half

I've had huge support from the Jewish community over many, many of my years

UKIP, the Brexit Party, and now with reform. And, yes, of course, since October 7th in particular

I've been a very strong supporter of Jewish rights in this country, and everyone knows that

So, just to be absolutely categorically clear, you're saying these stories are untrue

you're saying they're lies, and that Peter Attegui is a fantasist Well he is remembering something that frankly never ever happened And as for everybody else that is about a wider political debate and disagreement

When I was at school, there were very strong opinions on both sides of the argument

All sorts of things got said on every issue to each other. But am I guilty of targeting an individual and saying racist things to them

or repeating those slogans elsewhere? Certainly not. And what about, for example, it came out as well

that you were vocally supporting Enoch Powell? I mean, that... Oh, yes, yes

Well, that's at the heart of this. That's at the heart of this. That's at the heart of why all these people come out

He was a highly controversial figure. A lot of people supported him. A lot of people didn't

And don't forget, this was, you know, not long after, not long after we'd had the referendum on the EEC

we'd had the speech that he'd made that had cost him his job. And, yeah, you know, and there are people today who will say if you ever supported this guy, that for clearly means that you hold extremist views

I do not believe that to be the case. Let's just be absolutely clear, Nigel Farage, before we wrap, you're categorically saying these stories are fabricated and you are saying this is a politically motivated attack to try and destroy your reputation now because you're leading in the opinion polls and potentially could be the next prime minister

This is all about politics. Well, isn't the timing extraordinary? Absolutely extraordinary with reform 10 points plus in the lead in the polls. A lot of what is being said here is about political disagreement. Political disagreement in the 1970s and political disagreement now. And by the way, those same words are thrown at me now by Greens, Lib Dems, Corbynistas and many, many others

and on the specific allegation from one individual that I said these horrible things to him

I absolutely deny it completely. OK, Nigel Farrell, Leader of Reform UK

Thanks for joining us on GB News tonight