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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 stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He commented that the politician's "shifting" explanations had been difficult to believe.

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

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A recent investigation last month outlined the accounts of several ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

Since then, others have emerged; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either targets of or observed highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Changing Stories

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

Commentators have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his statements.

They also point to his inability to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the remarks.

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

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

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he must address the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become normalised in public life.”

In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

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

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the report, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an appearance, stating: “Have I said things as a youth that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”