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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his actions as a youth. He noted that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

“During his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Emerge

A recent investigation last month outlined the testimony of several ex-pupils of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, said that a teenage Farage "came up to me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

Since then, more people have come forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either targets of or witnesses to hurtful actions by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

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

They also reference his reluctance to reprimand a party member, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Arguing that 20 people have somehow forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he urgently needs acknowledge the fears of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in public life.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a certain style to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “never directly really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards released a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”