Attorney General Urges Nigel Farage to Say Sorry Over Claimed Racism and Antisemitism.

The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his past behaviour. He added that the leader's "constantly changing" explanations had been unconvincing.

“During his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A published report last month detailed the statements of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came 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 student of colour claimed that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the person said. “That included me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now stated they were either victims of or witnesses to hurtful actions by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

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

They also cite his reluctance to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the comments.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Claiming that two dozen individuals have somehow forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he must address the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become normalised in public life.”

In a separate interview, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a genuine 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 crafted in a certain style to communicate, but also not to say something,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an interview, remarking: “Did I say things decades ago that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

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