The Attorney General for England and Wales, Richard Hermer KC, has publicly called on Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who have accused him of racist and antisemitic behaviour during their time at Dulwich College.
Allegations from Former Pupils
This intervention follows a Guardian investigation last month which published testimony from more than a dozen former classmates. The number of individuals making allegations has since risen to about twenty.
They describe incidents spanning the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18. One former pupil, Peter Ettedgui, alleged that a 13-year-old Farage would approach him and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a hissing sound to mimic gas chambers.
Another, who was a minority ethnic pupil of about nine, claimed he was targeted by a 17-year-old Farage. He stated Farage would ask him where he was from and then point away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever he had named.
‘Unconvincing’ Denials and Political Pressure
In response to the reports, Farage has denied that anything he did was ‘directly’ racist or antisemitic, suggesting the claims amounted to playground ‘banter’ viewed through a modern lens. He has also claimed all the former classmates were not telling the truth.
However, Attorney General Hermer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers in government, labelled these denials as ‘constantly changing’ and ‘unconvincing’. He told the Guardian: “Arguing that 20 people have somehow all misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply isn’t credible.”
Hermer emphasised that “not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism” in his responses. He urged the Reform leader to apologise, stating: “If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he urgently needs to address the concerns of the Jewish community.”
Broader Criticism and Context
The controversy has drawn criticism from other senior political figures. Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Farage of being ‘spineless’ and said he had questions to answer. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said a “real leader would speak out and say something.”
Critics have also pointed to Farage’s broader record, including his failure to discipline Reform MP Sarah Pochin after she complained about the number of black and brown people in adverts, for which she later apologised.
Hermer concluded by stating that “racism in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in public life.” His comments reference wider concerns within the British Jewish community, fears he highlighted after an antisemitic attack in Manchester last October.
