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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who assert he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, based on their accounts of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "evolving" denials had been less than credible.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

A published report last month detailed the testimony of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil with two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That included me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have come forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either victims of or saw deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The incidents they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his statements.

They also point to his failure to discipline a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the statements.

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

He went on to say: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he must acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a other comments, 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 certain style to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

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

He said that he had “never directly sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”