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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 former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He commented that the politician's "shifting" statements had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A recent investigation last month outlined the statements of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, a former pupil, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That included me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Since then, more people have stepped forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either victims of or witnesses to highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The behaviour they described cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the former classmates were being untruthful.

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his denials.

They also reference his inability to reprimand a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, 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 isn’t credible."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he must acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Prejudice in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we must not permit it to ever become accepted in society.”

In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

“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 certain style to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance 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? Yes.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage later released a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”