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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "evolving" denials had been unconvincing.

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

Fresh Claims Surface

A published report last month documented the statements of several ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, said that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

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

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

Following the initial report, others have stepped forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either subject to or witnesses to deeply offensive actions by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were not telling the truth.

Commentators have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also reference his reluctance to reprimand a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the remarks.

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

He continued: “Arguing that a group of people have all forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he must confront the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in politics.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would identify as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “never directly really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, so long ago.”