Top Law Officer Calls On Reform UK Leader to Say Sorry Over Alleged Racism and Antisemitism.
The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.
Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his past behaviour. He noted that the politician's "evolving" denials had been unconvincing.
“Throughout his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.
New Allegations Emerge
A series of inquiries last month documented the accounts of several former classmates of Farage from a private college.
One, a former pupil, described that a teenage Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.
Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.
“He walked up to a pupil with two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That included me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”
After the story broke, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either subject to or witnesses to highly inappropriate actions by Farage.
The behaviour they recounted span the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.
Denials and Shifting Positions
The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were misremembering.
Observers have highlighted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.
They also point to his reluctance to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.
“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.
He went on to say: “Claiming that a group of people have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."
Demand for Accountability
“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he has to address the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.
“Prejudice in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become legitimised in society.”
In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.
“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would recognise as being drafted in a particular way to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she said.
Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments
In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.
Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an discussion, stating: “Did I say things decades ago that you could see as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”
He added that he had “never directly attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage later put out a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”