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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "evolving" denials had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

New Allegations Surface

A published report last month outlined the testimony of several ex-pupils of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil with two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either targets of or witnesses to hurtful conduct by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the individuals were not telling the truth.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his responses.

They also cite his reluctance to discipline a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the remarks.

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

He added: “Arguing that a group of people have all misremembered the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he has to acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the standards of this country and we should not let it to ever become normalised in society.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a particular way to say something, but also not to say something,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s legal team stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his explanation in an appearance, saying: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage later put out a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, so long ago.”