🔗 Share this article

The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He added that the politician's "shifting" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

A recent investigation last month documented the testimony of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority claimed that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That included me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have come forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either victims of or observed hurtful actions by Farage.

The behaviour they described span the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Changing Stories

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were not telling the truth.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also point to his inability to discipline a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the remarks.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Claiming that two dozen individuals have all misremembered the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he has to confront the concerns of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

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

In a different discussion, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would recognise as being drafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the release of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an interview, stating: “Have I said things as a youth that you could interpret as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage subsequently put out a further comment: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”