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

The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "evolving" explanations had been difficult to believe.

“During his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Emerge

A series of inquiries last month documented the statements of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority alleged that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil with two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That included me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, others have come forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either subject to or witnesses to deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were not telling the truth.

Observers have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his denials.

They also point to his reluctance to sanction a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He continued: “Suggesting that 20 people have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he urgently needs acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in politics.”

In a other comments, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters before the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an discussion, remarking: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently put out a further comment: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported when I was 13, so long ago.”