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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He noted that the leader's "shifting" statements had been less than credible.

“Throughout his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

New Allegations Come to Light

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

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That included me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you said you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have come forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either subject to or saw highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined span the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were being untruthful.

Critics have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also cite his inability to discipline a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.

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

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

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he has to confront the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we should not let it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an interview, stating: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards released a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published when I was 13, so long ago.”