According to The Guardian, Nigel Farage, speaking at an event at a private Christian college in Michigan, USA, has accused teachers in the UK of “poisoning our kids” and predicted that they would go on strike “very quickly” after a Reform UK election win.
They added that he claimed that the “Marxist left” is “now in control of our education system” and that teachers are “telling little Johnny, who's eight, who is black, that he is a victim and little Oliver, who is white, who is eight, that he is an oppressor” when, of course, they are doing no such thing. They are explaining that everyone is equal, that past oppression was wrong and should not be repeated, which is entirely different.
Farage did, of course, provide no evidence to support his claims, but Farage's words matter. They are not just the casual provocations of a populist. They are part of a wider campaign which dresses up grievance as patriotism and bigotry as if it were common sense. It is an attempt to make empathy itself look like subversion.
The false accusation
What Farage is really attacking is not Marxism, which he must know that almost no one in the teaching profession espouses, but the idea that teachers should care.
Teachers, quite reasonably, see children as human beings, with hopes, fears, and vulnerabilities shaped by the world around them. From my experience as a long-term school governor when I was in London, as a parent and as a friend of teachers, as well as in my role as an academic, teachers try to create spaces where all children can thrive, including those from families that have experienced discrimination or poverty. To recognise that disadvantage exists is not to “poison minds”; it is simply to acknowledge reality.
In this context, Christian teaching, which Farage often claims as the foundation of “British values”, demands precisely the compassion that the teachers he is condemning are showing. If he knew anything about Christianity (and it is pretty clear that he does not), he would know that the Sermon on the Mount, the parable of the Good Samaritan, and the injunction to love one's neighbour all affirm empathy for those whom society marginalises. The Christian commandment is not to “defend the powerful” but “care for the weak.”
If, in that case, Farage truly believed in Christian principles, he would be praising teachers for embodying them, not vilifying them.
A familiar pattern
Instead, Farage's attack on education follows a pattern well established by the political right, in both Britain and the United States.
First, they identify a group of professionals, whether they be teachers, doctors, judges, or civil servants, who serve the public rather than corporate or partisan interests.
Second, they claim that these professional people are part of a “woke” or “Marxist” conspiracy undermining what they describe as "national values".
Third, they use this claim to justify dismantling the institutions that actually sustain a decent, democratic society.
In particular, this is the white male Christian nationalist method that seeks to exclude from state concern anyone who does not conform to its narrow cultural and religious template. Its idea of “freedom” is one where hierarchy and obedience replace understanding and critical thought.
When Farage says he wants British education to look more like a US model favoured by the likes of J D Vance, he is not talking about free thinking. He is talking about indoctrination, which is the very thing he is accusing teachers of practising.
What this reveals
The reality is that behind Farage's rhetoric, there is fear: fear of diversity, fear of compassion, and fear of change.
He senses, quite correctly, that younger generations no longer accept the moral and social hierarchies on which his politics depend. Gen Z students, as the article suggests he himself admits, are “more open to critical thinking.” That openness terrifies him because it means they can see through the myths on which his brand of nationalism depends. So he does what demagogues always do: he blames educators, intellectuals, and institutions for the decline of an imagined moral order which is not actually happening.
The real threat
More than a million people work in UK schools. If the higher education sector is added in, as many work in education as probably work in the NHS. Some are teachers. Others are classroom assistants. And, of course, there are invaluable support staff in all schools. Together, they keep classrooms running, support children with learning difficulties (whose existence Farage by-and-large denies), and care for pupils' well-being as much as for their exam results. Their work is one of the most visible expressions of social solidarity that still exists in Britain.
Farage's hostility to that solidarity is not accidental. It is the essence of the authoritarian project. By dividing society into “patriots” and “traitors,” “winners” and “victims,” “teachers” and “real people,” he seeks to destroy any collective sense of care.
That is why he singles out the National Education Union and its leader, Daniel Kebede, who rightly described Farage's remarks as “grossly irresponsible.” Kebede's union represents not ideology but decency and the belief that education should nurture curiosity and inclusion, and not fear and conformity.
A choice about the country we wish to be
Bizarrely, amongst all the nonsense he spouts, Farage insists he wants education to teach “critical thinking”, but it is clear that he does so only on the condition that such teaching delivers conclusions that agree with his own prejudices. Real critical thought, however, begins with empathy: the capacity to imagine the experience of another person and to weigh evidence without fear.
That is what I think most of our teachers are trying to instil. It is what sustains a functioning democracy. And it is what Farage, through his rhetoric of resentment and exclusion, most fears.
The question his speech raises, then, is not about “Marxist teachers” or “poisoned minds.” It is about whether we still value compassion as a national virtue, or whether we are willing to let it be redefined as a form of treachery.
In that case, this is not a culture war about education. It is a moral war about the kind of society we wish to live in.
If empathy and understanding are Marxist, then perhaps Britain could use a little more Marxism (not that I am one, and I have read a lot of Marx). At the very least, we could do with a lot more humanity, or maybe just a little more real Christian understanding, which Farage does not, in any way, understand.
Taking further action
If you want to write a letter to your MP on the issues raised in this blog post, there is a ChatGPT prompt to assist you in doing so, with full instructions, here.
One word of warning, though: please ensure you have the correct MP. ChatGPT can get it wrong.
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Whenever anybody on the political right, or indeed in the centre, uses the word ‘marxist’, one thing you can be pretty sure of is that they have no idea what it actually means.
Agreed
Thank-you Richard for this brilliant dissection of Farage’s views on British education, which are borderline unhinged. Has he, I wonder , been in a school at all recently? I cannot imagine what headteacher would wish to let him in. The only thing I can agree with him on is the need for more critical thinking which should have the opposite effect of what he intends, to help people to analyse and reject his propaganda, which aims at stirring up the emotions rather than stimulating critical thought.
Maybe secondary school students could all do an English exercise on the speech.
Precis, summary, research evidence for the claims he makes, conclusions about its veracity, rebuttal of falsehoods, then each pupil to write out their response, and send them off to the Reform UK Ltd. Corporate HQ along with an invitation for him to visit and be quizzed on it by the students, next time he finds himself visiting the UK.
They would eat him alive.
What’s he doing in America again? Another USA-Clacton trade deal negotiation?
If Farage genuinely believes that teachers are all part of a Marxist cabal (but he probably doesn’t) then he probably hasn’t met many teachers. The example of an 8 year old in particular is odd, as Primary school teachers are the least likely to have any knowledge of Marx, let alone a strong desire to indoctrinate children. I have met many teachers in several different schools and most primary teachers are not in the least Political. But the example does lend credence to your theory that Farage is against compassion, as primary teachers are all about compassion and care.
I agree with all of what was said. “but Farage’s words matter” – because he his building a narrative – it’s a bullshit narrative but nevertheless a narrative & one which, for the most part the UK media tends not to question – when fart-rage is face to face with them. This begs the question what approach works.
https://bsky.app/profile/thedailyshow.com/post/3m2rydytfmc2j
The link shows “distressing scenes” & is a pointer on how to treat fart-rage and his rabble – ridicule. He is a ghastly ridiculous man (just like the imbeciles in the USA in the vid – no not the ones in the blow-up suits – the ones spouting shite on telly). I disagree with the fear bit – fart-rage just wants to generate headlines (& bolster the bullshit narrative). One way to do this is to force him & his dolts to face real questioning – not the softball shite that the meeja pitches to them
Really enjoyed the clip. Ridicule can work in the right context. Loved the idea of handing out flowers to the National Guard and the line dancing routine. Time to dole out this treatment to Fartrage and his ilk when the opportunity arises. Yesterday I could not resist writing to my local newspaper about some of the letters that they had published regarding flags because the “patriots” involved hadn’t been patriotic enough to learn how to fly the Union Flag the right way up!
🙂
“Ridicule can work in the right context. ”
I’m reminded here of when Farage visited Newcastle and was milkshaked. The look on his face as he was led away, dripping, by his minders ….
If we ever are so unfortunate as to have Farage as our Prime Minister, I would hope there would very soon be a General Strike, to drive him and his ilk out of office.
I am no fan of the current band of corporate shills that we call a government, but Farage would be 100 times worse.
I think trade unions should be on a major recruitment drive.
Its noticeable that teaching unions have an increasing visibility at events and protests, at least here in the North East.
From the Durham Miners Gala to May Day celebrations, from Pride events to a recent protest against Reform’s Durham County Council policies, various teaching unions banners are in attendence.
It suggests an increasing militantcy among at least some of their members, and Farage might prove to be an excellent recruiting sergeant.
Why not?
Teachers and medics are just about the first to see the harm from neoliberalism – and they encounter all in society. Of course they are more radical. The neoliberals never face the consequences of their actions.
I don’t suppose Farage’s teachers at Dulwich College helped him much with developing an empathetic outlook and possibly indoctrinated him with reactionary ideas. Or whether he has even read anything from Das Capital to make an intelligent critique.
Dulwich College identified him as a Nazi, didn’t want him as a prefect, and generally despised him.
I can assure mr Farage that in the special needs school in the Netherlands where I teach economics;
– Marxism is not on the curriculum
– the kids here with behavioural issues are roughly in line with the demographics of the Netherlands, so the majority of the “trouble makers” are white.
Every time this buffoon opens his mouth people listen. Unfortunately for the rest of us, many people are taken in by his rhetoric, partly explaining why his private company(claiming to be a political party) are doing well in the opinion polls. Also, his pronouncements are so devoid of evidence, he gives his many critics a stick to beat him with. The media, who should be holding him to account are giving him an easy ride because they know he is really a Conservative with more extreme versions of their failed ideology.
His idea of Marxism would label anyone a marxist who gives a shit about their fellow citizens. If that were true, which it obviously isn’t, I’d like to think we are nearly all marxist.
It’s bigotry to make the assertions he makes about teachers, who care about people as educators. I’m never sure if people like Farage are really racists themselves, or just use racist bigotry to stir up the people. I suppose it amounts to the same thing in the final reckoning.
“I’m never sure if people like Farage are really racists themselves, or just use racist bigotry to stir up the people. I suppose it amounts to the same thing in the final reckoning.”
Only a racist uses racist language. There can no pretence, because using racist language in that way is racist in itself.
Paul
“His idea of Marxism would label anyone a marxist who gives a shit about their fellow citizens. If that were true, which it obviously isn’t, I’d like to think we are nearly all marxist. ”
There’s a small echo-chamber of Farage supporters than infest my local newspaper’s website comment columns. They appear to see just about everything they dont like as ‘marxist’ – including Starmer, which gives you some idea of their grip on reality.
Whenever challenged to explain why, if everything is run by marxists, we dont actually live in a Marxist society, they go silent or respond with abuse.
They are tedious, I know. None of them has a clue what a Marxist is.
I suspect that much of the support for Reform online and social media are probably US or Russian, bots, state bad actors, etc. They are all at it because they know how important winning the propaganda battle online is. Plus, it is so easy to spread disinformation. Dare I suggest it is the arena for the new Cold War?
Maybe…
There are a lot of real people who think likle this – I have met far too many
The teachers I see are doing their best to care for the children they teach despite more social problems entering the classroom and ridiculous expectations from the government. The are pretty apolitical and barely have time to think let alone cause trouble. If they do strike it will be because all goodwill has been exhausted and they are tired of trying to do the impossible.
I get the impression that Farage is setting the scene for his post election battles, should Reform be in power.
… “Poisoning our kids” and predicted that they would go on strike “very quickly” after a Reform UK election win.
Farage’s hero, Thatcher, chose her war with the miners, and trade unions in general. They were, “the enemy within”.
He has selected teachers to be Reform’s first enemy and target. There will be many others to follow.
Looks like the familiar right-wing playbook on blame culture politics.
And of course, once the brown stuff hits the fan from Reform’s Liz Truss on steroids economic policies, Farage will need all the culture war enemies that he can muster to blame for the UK’s problems.
Other than himself, of course.
Farage’s modus operandi is to snipe from the sidelines, not actually take responsibility himself for actually governing. He is a wrecker not a builder. That is why he looked so aghast when the Brexit referendum result was declared. It would have suited him far better if the result had been a close win for Remain. He could have gone on then for years stirring the pot, which is what he enjoys doing because he is good at it. So any idea that he is actually planning ahead for government is risible. I expect that if he did win the election he would be similarly aghast as he would have no idea how to govern properly and his attempts at governing would be as bad for us as Trump’s are in the US. I can only hope that by 2029 the Trump catastrophe in the US is plain to see and someone has the gumption to hang Brexit firmly around Nigel Farage’s neck.
For Farage, and for those funding his company, the purpose of education is to create compliant generators of economic growth, thereby supporting their continued enrichment without criticism. The idea that education could serve any other purpose is anathema, hence his word salad about Marxist woke leftie indoctrination.
I find this very worrying, given what actions might follow his ridiculous rhetoric. For example my sister works across libraries in a Reform controlled local authority. The council has banned libraries from celebrating black authors and any displays are to have a ‘mix’ of writers. Also female authors can’t be celebrated separately. Apparently they’re taking the county in a ‘new corporate direction.’ ‘Straight into the gutter’ was sister’s response. A colleague of hers who defied management instructions re black authors has been told they could face disciplinary action. They have a big rainbow in their library entrance and black authors posters on display. Be afraid folks, be very afraid.
I am not surprised
I was staying away from home a few days ago (to attend a funeral). The establishment where I stayed is largely staffed by non UK born people. I spoke with some and they are frightened that if Farage ‘gets in’ they will be made to leave this country despite having ‘settled status’. This fear must apply to schools as well where not only teaching, but such as the cleaning and kitchen work is done by these hard working, good and loyal people. My friends with children and/or grandchildren do not complain of those within the education system of being from the Marxist left – and nor do the children or grandchildren. I have not once heard Farage come up with a policy for future government – he just has auto-speke racial slurs – hopefully many of the people who currently support him and his prejudices will realise in time both the damage these prejudices can do to this country and his lack of actual governing policies. As you state, Farage seeks to destroy any collective sense of care.
We agree.
Thank you for standing up for people who are at this moment working very hard to make sure our children are safe and sufficiently nourished to be able to learn.
1 in 3 children live in poverty whats Farage saying about that?
Nothing at all
It’s probably easier just to have a “far right” lexicon
“marxist” = very slightly socially liberal
“woke”= very slightly socially liberal
“culture war” = anyone saying anything slightly socially liberal
“Socialist” = believing in a public fire brigade and public libraries
“left (-ist)” = anything “left” of “far right”
“immigrant” = anyone not a white Anglo-Saxon
“witch-hunt” = any investigation into them
………..
Speaking as a special needs teacher, I would love to be able to teach my pupils about the world around them and how economics actually works.
Unfortunately, I have to give ghouls like Farage equal credence when talking about political parties and how to be a decent human being compared to Liv Dems and Greens.
My pupils are extremely perceptive and once I start talk about the impact policies will have they quickly see how bad it would be.
Why is this so difficult for the populace to understand?
Excellent question
The teachers I know are over worked to the point they can hardly breath. Much of their free time is spent marking. It would be a dream come true if they had the time to indoctrinate anybody.
Every accusation is a confession with these people. They claim that teachers are “poisoning” young minds, what they mean is that they themselves want to poison young minds. Further more, these people Farage is talking to in a Christian American college have little in common with his voting base here. He is obviously just there looking for donations from a loosely aligned right wing group, terrified of their diminished position in the world. And if Reform get into power, good luck replacing all the teachers with right wingers. They wouldn’t find enough right wing education professionals to fill a fraction of the required positions. The Right always complain that education is too left wing, that’s because right wing people go into jobs that pay well, not that have social benefits but poor rewards. It has been studied in the States.
“Outrage” Farage making stuff up for the gullible!
Anything to the left of (say) Michael Gove is always pained as “Marxist”. This is behaviour Joe McCarthy would be proud of. Until when this is going to go on?!
Who knows? Idiots and their delusions have lasted through history.