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

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his past behaviour. He commented that the leader's "constantly changing" statements had been unconvincing.

“During his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Surface

A series of inquiries last month outlined the accounts of over a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

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

Another pupil from an ethnic minority alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two equally tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That involved me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, additional individuals have stepped forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either victims of or observed hurtful actions by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the individuals were being untruthful.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his denials.

They also cite his inability to discipline a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the remarks.

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

He went on to say: “Suggesting that 20 people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he has to address the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

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

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would recognise as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also not to say something,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led such conduct is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a today's standards today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”