Top Law Officer Demands Reform UK Leader to Apologise Over Claimed Antisemitic and Racist Behaviour.

The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates 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 accounts of his alleged conduct. He added that the leader's "constantly changing" statements had been less than credible.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

A published report last month documented the accounts of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil with two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

After the story broke, others have stepped forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either targets of or witnesses to highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the accusers were misremembering.

Commentators have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his statements.

They also reference his failure to sanction a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

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

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he urgently needs acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in public life.”

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being drafted in a certain style to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications before the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an discussion, remarking: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Possibly.”

He said that he had “never directly sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”