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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He commented that the politician's "shifting" denials had been difficult to believe.

“During his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A published report last month outlined the accounts of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil with two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have stepped forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either subject to or observed hurtful conduct by Farage.

The behaviour they described span the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

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

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

They also cite his reluctance to discipline a party member, a MP, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the comments.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Arguing that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he must confront the fears of the Jewish people, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the principles of this country and we must not permit it to ever become accepted in society.”

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to appear as a real leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a specific manner to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the report, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led such conduct is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his explanation in an discussion, remarking: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in a certain manner? Yes.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and harm anybody”. Farage later put out a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”