Top Law Officer Demands Nigel Farage to Apologise Over Alleged Racism and Antisemitism.

The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his actions as a youth. He added that the politician's "shifting" denials had been less than credible.

“In his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A published report last month documented the testimony of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

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 flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you said you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have come forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either victims of or saw hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were being untruthful.

Critics have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his statements.

They also reference his inability to reprimand a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the remarks.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

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

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he must confront the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Prejudice in all its forms is abhorrent to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become normalised in society.”

In a different discussion, the Chancellor said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the very careful language 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 lawyers' communications before the publication of the report, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his stance in an discussion, saying: “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? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “never directly sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage later issued a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”

Grace Schwartz
Grace Schwartz

Wildlife biologist specializing in sloth behavior and rainforest ecosystems, with over a decade of field research experience.