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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to school contemporaries 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 actions as a youth. He added that the leader's "constantly changing" statements had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A published report last month detailed the accounts of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a teenage Farage "would sidle 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 minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil with two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Since then, others have come forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either targets of or saw highly inappropriate conduct by Farage.

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

Changing Stories

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the accusers were misremembering.

Critics have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his denials.

They also cite his inability to sanction a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Suggesting that a group of people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he has to confront the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

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

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also not to say something,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters before the release of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his explanation in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and hurt anybody”. Farage later released a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, so long ago.”