🔗 Share this article

The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "shifting" statements had been difficult to believe.

“During his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A published report last month documented the statements of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "came up to me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

Since then, others have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either targets of or saw hurtful actions by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were misremembering.

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

They also cite his inability to discipline a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Arguing that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he urgently needs acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being written in a certain style to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

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

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an appearance, stating: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “never directly sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage subsequently released a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, decades in the past.”