A group of Holocaust survivors has called for that Nigel Farage be honest and apologise for reported antisemitic abuse he is said to have made toward Jewish schoolmates during his time at school.
The Reform UK leader has said he never racially abused anyone with the aim to hurt, framing it may have been mere "playground banter".
"Being Shoah survivors, we grasp the grave risk of hateful words – because we have witnessed where such words can lead," declared the survivors in a letter.
"Let us be clear: lauding Hitler, mimicking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not simple joking. Not in a playground. Not under any circumstances."
The correspondence poses blunt questions to the party leader: "Did you say ‘Hitler was right’ and ‘gas them,’ and mimicked gas chambers? Did you target your classmates to bigoted harassment?"
The group of 11 survivors features individuals with devastating personal stories from the Nazi genocide.
The remaining survivors include Janine Webber, Edith Jayne, Helen Aronson, Ruth Barnett, John Fieldsend, Susan Pollack, Hanneke Dye and Agnes Kaposi.
This public letter comes after the rejection of related accounts by more than two dozen or more alumni and teachers as "made-up twaddle" by a senior party figure.
Since the initial report, further individuals from that era have come forward. 28 ex-students and educators now claim they witnessed prejudiced actions by him.
One well-known account comes from Peter Ettedgui, a Jewish-born Bafta and Emmy-winning director, who has stated that a teenage Farage would approach him and say the phrases "Hitler was right" and "send them to the gas chambers", on occasion making a prolonged hissing sound to mimic the sound of poison gas.
Additional alumni from diverse backgrounds have additionally come forward with allegations of personal harassment.
The survivors' letter poses a final question to Farage: "By denying saying those words, are you claiming that dozens of individuals are not telling the truth? Should the allegations be true, now is the moment to admit your error and say sorry."
"People who aspire to lead our country should never create division by background or belief. Hatred of Jews must never become acceptable. This moment is about personal accountability. The choice is yours, Mr Farage."
Award-winning investigative journalist with over 15 years of experience covering political and social issues across Europe.
Alexandra James
Alexandra James
Alexandra James
Alexandra James
Alexandra James
Alexandra James