Record View hits out at the Reform leader on the back of his ugly comments about children in Glasgow schools who do not use English as a first language.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)Farage must face up to alleged slurs
People make mistakes in their youth and there should be a large dose of tolerance applied when past misdeeds come out. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under mounting pressure over claims he used horrific anti-semitic slurs against fellow pupils.
He is even accused of saying vile things like “Hitler was right”. But while young people should be judged to different standards, politicians have a duty of transparency.
Farage’s lack of candour on what he said decades ago is deeply troubling and speaks volumes about his character. The fact so many former school mates have said he made offensive remarks cannot be shrugged off.
The volume of testimony is weighty. The row isn’t going to go away, given that eleven Holocaust survivors have demanded he tells the truth about his comments.
In their letter, they wrote: “Let us be clear: praising Hitler, mocking gas chambers, or hurling racist abuse is not banter. Not in a playground. Not anywhere.”
Farage will be in Scotland today and he is likely to face a raft of questions on this latest racism row. It comes on the back of his ugly comments about children in Glasgow schools who do not use English as a first language.
His incendiary comments were clearly meant to divide communities and stoke tensions. The remarks appear fully in keeping with statements made all the way back to his school days.
He must provide full transparency and issue an unflinching apology.
READ MORE: John Swinney slams Nigel Farage’s remarks on Glasgow schoolchildren as ‘racist’READ MORE: Keir Starmer brands Nigel Farage a ‘toxic disgrace’ over Glasgow pupils commentsAbuse victims deserve better
Victims of horrific abuse at the Fornethy children’s home in Angus were rightly furious when their torturer Patricia Robertson, a 77-year-old retired teacher, avoided jail. As she was convicted judge Lord Colbeck told Robertson she was responsible for “cruel and unnatural treatment” spanning 1969 to 1984.
But in a move that left victims in disbelief the judge did not send her to prison, instead choosing a community- based sentence. Today the Daily Record reports that prosecutors are considering a rare appeal against the leniency of the sentence imposed.
We hope such an appeal takes place and we are sure it would be welcomed by those who suffered at Robertson’s cold hands. The judge was clearly of the view that Robertson’s age and frailty meant she no longer posed a risk to the public.
That may well be the case. But a justice system that puts victims first also has to consider the effect of sentencing on those who suffered.
The courts also need to impose sentences that act as a suitable deterrent to others. In this case the needs of the abuser seemed to outweigh the demands of the victims for proper justice.
That needs to be put right as soon as possible.
READ MORE: Decision not to jail evil Fornethy ‘House of Horrors’ teacher to be probed by CrownREAD MORE: Woman battered and force fed by evil teacher slams decision not to send her to jail