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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer stated that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He added that the politician's "evolving" statements had been unconvincing.

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

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A published report last month documented the accounts of over a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That included me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now stated they were either victims of or saw hurtful conduct by Farage.

The incidents they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

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

They also point to his failure to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the statements.

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

He added: “Suggesting that 20 people have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he urgently needs confront the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

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

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a specific manner to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence before the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an discussion, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently released a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, decades in the past.”