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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He commented that the politician's "shifting" explanations had been unconvincing.

“In his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Further Testimonies Surface

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

One, a former pupil, described that a teenage Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

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

Following the initial report, more people have come forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either targets of or witnesses to highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they described span the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were not telling the truth.

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

They also reference his inability to discipline a colleague in his party, a MP, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Suggesting that 20 people have somehow misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he has to acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in politics.”

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a specific manner to say something, but also not to say something,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, approved of, or led such conduct is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an discussion, remarking: “Did I say things decades ago that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and hurt anybody”. Farage subsequently released a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, so long ago.”