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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "evolving" statements had been less than credible.

“During his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Surface

A series of inquiries last month outlined the testimony of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, a former pupil, described 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 simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two 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 said you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or witnesses to deeply offensive actions by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were misremembering.

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

They also cite his reluctance to sanction a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He went on to say: “Arguing that 20 people have all misremembered the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he has to acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would recognise as being drafted in a specific manner to say something, but also not to say something,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led such conduct is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an discussion, saying: “Did I say things decades ago that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Yes.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage later issued a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”