Nigel Farage has said he did not racially abuse fellow pupils while at school in a “hurtful or insulting way”.

The Reform UK leader said he had never been part of “an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant personal abuse” but added: “Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can’t.”

Tories ‘scraping the barrel’ by comparing Reform and Nazi badges

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mr Farage said there was a “strong political element” to the allegations, which were first published in The Guardian.

The newspaper reported that the former UKIP leader allegedly made racist and antisemitic comments while he was a pupil at Dulwich College, an independent school in south London.

But asked whether he racially abused fellow pupils when he was at school, Mr Farage said: “No.

“And this is 49 years ago, by the way. 49 years ago. Have I ever tried to take it out on any individual on the basis of where they’re from? No.”

Pressed on the same question again, he replied: “I would never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way.”

He added: “I just entered my teens. Can I remember everything that happened at school? No, I can’t. Have I ever been part of an extremist organisation or engaged in direct, unpleasant personal abuse, genuine abuse, on that basis? No.”

Challenged on what was described as a “very caveated” answer – and that he was “not quite ruling this out”, the Reform UK leader responded: “I’ve never directly really tried to go and hurt anybody.

“Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter in a playground that you could interpret in a modern light of day in some sort of way? Yes.

“Have I ever misspoken in my life in my younger days when I was a child? Probably.

“I would say to you, there is a strong political element to this.”

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The latest accusations come after Sarah Pochin, the Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby, was embroiled in a racism row after she said it “drives me mad when I see adverts full of black people, full of Asian people”, which do not “reflect our society” – comments she later apologised for.

Mr Farage told reporters that while he was “unhappy” about the “ugly” remarks, he did not think they were “racist”.

But Sir Keir Starmer has called Mr Farage “spineless” for not taking action against Ms Pochin for “obvious racism”.

He told reporters last week: “The man is spineless. If that had been someone in my party, I’d have dealt with it straight away.

“He needs to explain the latest allegations, and whilst he’s at it, he needs to explain why he’s too spineless to take action in relation to what is obvious racism in the comments of his fellow MP.”

Luxury cars will no longer be available for Motabiltiy recipients, it has been announced, with the government saying more money will also go to British manufacturers under changes.

The announcement comes just days ahead of the budget, although it does not appear that the announcement will have any change to government finances.

Motability is a scheme whereby people getting personal independence payments (PIP) can sacrifice part of their benefits in exchange for a rental vehicle, if they are eligible.

Politics latest: Farage responds to ‘racism’ claims

Motability vehicles are eligible for tax breaks, and the scheme has come under criticism for the notable increase in recipients without visible disabilities, alongside an increase in the volume of PIP recipients.

There has also been criticism of the luxury options available, which people can pay extra money for.

Proponents argue the scheme helps people get around and allows them to keep jobs and live more independently. The scheme also pays for adaptations to vehicles if people need them.

Tonight’s announcement comes from Motability Operations, the charity which operates the scheme.

It says the aim is for 50% of vehicles leased through the scheme to be built in Britain by 2035, claiming it will support UK economic growth with a demand for 150,000 vehicles every year.

However, luxury brands such as BMW and Mercedes will be removed as options, alongside the likes of Jaguar and Land Rover, “immediately”.

An announcement from Motability said: “In the short term, Motability Operations will work closely with UK-based manufacturers to increase the share of British-built vehicles leased by customers, while maintaining affordability, choice and quality.

“This includes doubling the number of Nissan British-built vehicles that the scheme leases to around 40,000.

“The intention would be that 25% of cars on the scheme would be UK-built by 2030, up from 7% today.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Backing British car manufacturing will support thousands of well-paid, skilled jobs and is exactly the long-term investment our Modern Industrial Strategy delivers.

“We are growing the economy to bring down debt, cut NHS waiting lists and cut the cost of living.”

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The government is tonight refusing to say if it will change the Motability eligibility criteria in the budget, with any changes in this regard likely to come about as a result of the Timms review into PIP.

Earlier this year, the government tried to reduce the swelling PIP bill, but was defeated by its own backbenchers, launching a review chaired by minister Stephen Timms to look at the system.

Mr Timms said last month that “there will be no changes to the eligibility conditions for the mobility component of the personal independence payment” until his review finishes in a year’s time.

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It is widely expected the government will increase welfare spending in the budget by scrapping the two-child benefit cap.

Taxes are also expected to rise, as the government wants to find more headroom and avoid cutting budgets.

Update (Nov. 24 at 7:35 pm UTC): This article has been updated to include a response from Stand With Crypto.

The cryptocurrency advocacy organization backed by Coinbase has started surveying federal and state candidates on their positions on digital assets ahead of the 2026 midterm elections in the United States.

In a Monday notice shared with Cointelegraph, Stand With Crypto said it had sent a questionnaire to an unspecified number of candidates in state and federal races, asking for information related to their positions on “digital assets, crypto innovation, de-banking, crypto mining and zoning, consumer protections,” and more. The organization also requested that respondents disclose whether they had ever held crypto or used blockchain technology.

“The next Congress will have a significant impact on whether or not the US adopts the pro-crypto policies that will foster continued economic growth, innovation, and access,” said Stand With Crypto community director Mason Lynaugh. 

Stand With Crypto said it would utilize the questionnaire’s results to determine where to focus its efforts for the 2026 midterm elections, mobilizing through events and encouraging crypto-minded individuals to vote. A spokesperson for the organization told Cointelegraph that it would distribute the forms “widely,” but did not specify the number of candidates.

The organization has already turned out voters in the 2025 election for New Jersey’s governor, which could have influenced Democrat Mikie Sherrill’s victory by about 450,000 votes.

Related: How market structure votes could influence 2026 crypto voters

All 435 seats in the US House of Representatives and 33 seats in the Senate will be up for grabs in the 2026 elections, as well as many in state-level races. In 2024, Stand With Crypto reported that 274 candidates considered “pro-crypto” based on their public statements and voting records won election or reelection.

“The questionnaire will not only significantly influence the final grade that politicians receive from Stand With Crypto, but also is the main way that candidates can receive a profile on the site for voters across the country to reference as they determine how to cast their ballots,” a spokesperson for Stand With Crypto told Cointelegraph.

Market structure paused during the US holidays?

This week, members of the House and Senate are scheduled for state work periods, meaning they will return to their home districts and states ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday.

Although Congress has continued to make progress with a bill to establish a comprehensive digital asset market structure, the holidays and the longest government shutdown in US history are likely to slow Republican lawmakers’ plans to have the bill signed into law by 2026.

The latest estimate from Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott signaled passage early next year.