Top Law Officer Urges Nigel Farage to Apologise Over Claimed Racism and Antisemitism.

The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer said that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "evolving" statements had been difficult to believe.

“In his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

New Allegations Surface

A recent investigation last month documented the statements of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

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

Another pupil from an ethnic minority alleged that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Since then, others have come forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or witnesses to hurtful actions by Farage.

The incidents they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were not telling the truth.

Observers have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his denials.

They also cite his reluctance to sanction a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Suggesting that a group of people have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he has to address the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those 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 must not permit it to ever become legitimised in public life.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a real leader.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an discussion, stating: “Have I said things decades ago that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”