Attorney General Urges Reform UK Leader to Apologise Over Alleged Racism and Antisemitism.

The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his past behaviour. He commented that the politician's "evolving" explanations had been difficult to believe.

“In his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A recent investigation last month outlined the testimony of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

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

Another student of colour stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have stepped forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either subject to or observed deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were being untruthful.

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also cite his failure to discipline a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He continued: “Claiming that 20 people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he must address the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever engaged in, approved of, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his stance in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things as a youth that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “never directly really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently released a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”