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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his past behaviour. He noted that the leader's "shifting" denials had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Surface

A series of inquiries last month outlined the statements of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour claimed that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil with two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That included me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have come forward; approximately twenty people have now alleged they were either targets of or observed highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

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

Observers have highlighted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also point to his inability to discipline a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.

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

He continued: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he must acknowledge the fears of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It is very telling 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 communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters before the publication of the report, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, approved of, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is strongly rejected”.

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

He commented that he had “never directly attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage later issued a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, decades in the past.”