Top Law Officer Urges Nigel Farage to Say Sorry Over Reported Antisemitic and Racist Behaviour.
The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.
Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He commented that the leader's "shifting" statements had been unconvincing.
“In his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.
New Allegations Come to Light
A series of inquiries last month documented the accounts of several ex-pupils of Farage from Dulwich College.
One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.
Another student of colour alleged that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.
“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That included me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”
Following the initial report, more people have emerged; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either victims of or saw deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.
The alleged events they outlined 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 "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the accusers were being untruthful.
Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.
They also cite his inability to sanction a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.
“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer stated.
He added: “Suggesting that 20 people have all misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."
Call for Leadership
“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he has to acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.
“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in public life.”
In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.
“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being written in a particular way to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.
Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments
In formal correspondence before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.
Farage later altered his stance in an discussion, remarking: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”
He commented that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards released a further comment: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”