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The United Kingdom's top law officer, 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 years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He added that the leader's "evolving" denials had been unconvincing.

“During his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

New Allegations Come to Light

A recent investigation last month outlined the accounts of several ex-pupils of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That included me on three separate times; inquiring 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 stated they were either subject to or witnesses to deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The behaviour they described span the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were being untruthful.

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

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

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

He continued: “Arguing that two dozen individuals have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he has to confront the concerns of the Jewish people, and apologise to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the standards of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a particular way to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an appearance, stating: “Have I said things as a youth that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, decades in the past.”