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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his past behaviour. He noted that the leader's "evolving" denials had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

New Allegations Come to Light

A recent investigation last month outlined the statements of several ex-pupils of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour claimed that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Since then, others have stepped forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either victims of or saw highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were not telling the truth.

Commentators have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his statements.

They also cite his inability to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the statements.

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

He added: “Suggesting that a group of people have somehow misremembered the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he urgently needs acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we must not permit it to ever become normalised in politics.”

In a other comments, a senior politician said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an interview, remarking: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently released a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”