## We were all idiots at school. But not all of us were racist, Mr Farage
Victoria Richards reflects on the claim made by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who insists his youthful mistakes do not define him as racist.
> "If the Reform UK leader’s actions belied him being a stupid teenager, maybe we could believe him," writes Victoria Richards.
Richards discusses the common experience of making mistakes in adolescence but highlights that such mistakes are not synonymous with racism. She draws attention to Farage’s attempt to downplay accusations of racism by pointing to youthful ignorance.
### Context
Farage's defense relies on the idea that during school years, many people act foolishly, and he should not be judged harshly for his younger self. However, Richards argues that being foolish and being racist are not equivalent, and his past actions must be scrutinized carefully rather than excused simply as youth-driven errors.
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This analysis reminds us that although youthful mistakes are common, they should not be conflated with harmful prejudices like racism.
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The Independent on MSN — 2025-12-01