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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his alleged conduct. He commented that the leader's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

“During his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A published report last month detailed the accounts of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority claimed that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, additional individuals have come forward; around two dozen people have now stated they were either victims of or witnesses to hurtful conduct by Farage.

The alleged events they described relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

Commentators have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his denials.

They also point to his failure to reprimand a colleague in his party, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the remarks.

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

He continued: “Claiming that 20 people have all forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

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

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

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It says a lot 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 dodge the issue,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an interview, saying: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”