Top Law Officer Calls On Nigel Farage to Say Sorry Over Alleged Antisemitic and Racist Behaviour.

The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He commented that the politician's "shifting" explanations had been unconvincing.

“During his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

New Allegations Emerge

A recent investigation last month outlined the statements of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

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

Another pupil from an ethnic minority stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That included me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Since then, others have come forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either subject to or observed highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents 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 suggested the accusers were not telling the truth.

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

They also cite his reluctance to sanction a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the remarks.

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

He continued: “Arguing that 20 people have all misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he has to address the fears of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a certain style to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an interview, saying: “Have I said things as a youth that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage later put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published when I was 13, so long ago.”