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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "shifting" statements had been less than credible.

“During his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A recent investigation last month outlined the testimony of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That included me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Since then, more people have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either targets of or witnesses to hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The alleged events they described relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were misremembering.

Observers have highlighted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also cite his inability to reprimand a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the comments.

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

He went on to say: “Claiming that 20 people have all misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he must confront the fears of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a different discussion, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a certain style to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications before the release of the report, Farage’s legal team stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, approved of, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an discussion, saying: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage later issued a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported when I was 13, so long ago.”