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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his past behaviour. He commented that the politician's "constantly changing" statements had been difficult to believe.

“In his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A series of inquiries last month documented the statements of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have stepped forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either subject to or saw hurtful actions by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the former classmates were misremembering.

Observers have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also reference his failure to sanction a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have all misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he must confront the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we must not permit it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a other comments, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an interview, remarking: “Have I said things as a youth that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Yes.”

He said that he had “never directly attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a further comment: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”