Attorney General Demands Reform UK Leader to Say Sorry Over Reported Racism and Antisemitism.

The United Kingdom's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their accounts of his alleged conduct. He commented that the leader's "evolving" denials had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A series of inquiries last month outlined the statements of several ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That involved me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, additional individuals have stepped forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either subject to or saw hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they described cover the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Changing Stories

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the individuals were being untruthful.

Critics have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his responses.

They also point to his reluctance to reprimand a colleague in his party, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He added: “Arguing that 20 people have all misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he has to acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the standards of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in public life.”

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being crafted in a particular way to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence before the release of the report, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an discussion, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, so long ago.”