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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He added that the politician's "shifting" statements had been difficult to believe.

“In his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Emerge

A recent investigation last month detailed the accounts of more than a dozen former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

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

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

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the person said. “That included me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, others have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either targets of or observed highly inappropriate conduct by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

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

Commentators 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 sanction a party member, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the statements.

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

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

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he must confront the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

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

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the release of the report, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an interview, saying: “Have I said things as a youth that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards released a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”