Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched a fierce attack on the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of "double standards" as he faces allegations about his own past conduct.
Allegations and Denials from School Days
The political figure is responding to claims that he engaged in racist and antisemitic behaviour while he was a pupil at the prestigious Dulwich College in London. Mr Farage firmly denies all the allegations made about his time at the south London school.
Instead of directly addressing the specifics of the claims, the Reform leader turned his fire on the national broadcaster. He argued that much of the BBC's own output from the 1970s and 1980s would be deemed unacceptable by modern sensibilities.
Farage's Counter-Accusation Against the BBC
Mr Farage pointed to classic sitcoms like It Ain't Half Hot Mum as examples of content that would now be widely viewed as racist. He challenged the corporation, stating that if it wished to apply today's standards retrospectively, it should apologise for broadcasting such material.
"The BBC is guilty of glaring double standards," Mr Farage asserted, framing his criticism as a defence against what he sees as hypocritical scrutiny.
Political Reactions and Accusations of 'Chaos'
The response from other political parties was swift and critical. The Labour Party stated that Mr Farage should be apologising to the alleged victims of his reported remarks rather than criticising the BBC. They also accused him of failing to maintain a consistent story regarding the truth of the allegations.
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party characterised his comments as a "rant" and suggested that the episode demonstrated that the Reform UK party was in a state of "chaos".
The controversy emerges amidst a heated general election campaign, where the conduct and history of candidates are under intense examination.
Do you believe Mr Farage has a point about the BBC's double standards? Have your say in the Daily Mail's latest poll. In yesterday's survey, which asked if facial recognition cameras should be rolled out across Britain, more than 14,000 readers voted. The result was remarkably close, with 54 per cent saying 'no' and 46 per cent voting 'yes'.
