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

The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer said that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He noted that the leader's "shifting" denials had been less than credible.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

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

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

Another minority ethnic pupil alleged that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil with two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That included me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, additional individuals have stepped forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either victims of or observed hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

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

Changing Stories

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the former classmates were misremembering.

Critics have highlighted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also reference his inability to discipline a colleague in his party, a MP, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer said.

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

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he urgently needs acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves 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 precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a certain style to say something, but also not to say something,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his stance in an interview, remarking: “Did I say things as a youth that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

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