Top Law Officer Calls On Nigel Farage to Say Sorry Over Claimed Racism and Antisemitism.

The United Kingdom's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his past behaviour. He commented that the leader's "evolving" denials had been less than credible.

“In his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month detailed the accounts of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, recalled that a teenage Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ 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 claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil with two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Since then, more people have come forward; around two dozen people have now stated they were either subject to or saw hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they described cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were not telling the truth.

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

They also cite his reluctance to reprimand a party member, a MP, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He continued: “Arguing that 20 people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

“If he wants to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he must confront the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

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

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would identify as being written in a specific manner to say something, but also not to say something,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the release of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his position in an appearance, stating: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”