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

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their accounts of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "evolving" denials had been unconvincing.

“During his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A recent investigation last month detailed the testimony of several former classmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, a former pupil, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic 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 17-year-old Farage.

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

Following the initial report, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or saw deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

Observers have pointed out that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also point to his inability to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

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

He added: “Arguing that a group of people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he must confront the fears of the Jewish people, and apologise to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in society.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an appearance, stating: “Have I said things as a youth that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”