Nigel Farage has “categorically” denied claims of racism during his schooldays in a new statement. The Reform UK leader has faced allegations of racist behaviour while at Dulwich College as a teenager.

The Clacton MP branded the claims as a “smear”, adding that it was “not the first time the desperate establishment has come after me, and it will not be the last”. It comes after Mr Farage yesterday insisted he never engaged in racist behaviour “with intent” in an interview.

In his statement tonight, he said: “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 am 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. I will leave the public to draw their own conclusions about why that might be.

“We know that the Guardian wants to smear anybody who talks about the immigration issue. But the truth is that I have done more in my career to defeat extremism and far-right politics than anybody else in the UK, from my time fighting the BNP right up to today.

“Many of those making these statements just happen to be political opponents. One, for example, is the current chair of the Salisbury Lib Dems.

“This is not the first time the desperate establishment has come after me, and it will not be the last.

“So again: I can categorically say that the stories being told about me from 50 years ago are not true.”

The Guardian’s report was based on allegations from more than a dozen school contemporaries of Mr Farage, 61.

A spokesman for the Reform leader previously denied the claims on his behalf.