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

The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has urged Nigel Farage to apologise to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He commented that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been less than credible.

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

New Allegations Come to Light

A published report last month documented the statements of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from a south London school.

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

Another pupil from an ethnic minority stated that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That involved me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have come forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either targets of or witnesses to hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined span the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

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

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

They also point to his failure to sanction a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the comments.

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

He continued: “Arguing that 20 people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he has to address the concerns of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

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

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications before the release of the report, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, approved of, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an interview, stating: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently 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, nearly 50 years ago.”