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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their accounts of his actions as a youth. He noted that the leader's "shifting" denials had been less than credible.

“In his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month outlined the testimony of more than a dozen former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That included me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have emerged; around two dozen people have now stated they were either subject to or saw deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the individuals were not telling the truth.

Observers have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also point to his inability to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Suggesting that a group of people have all misremembered the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he must confront the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

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

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence before the publication of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his position in an interview, remarking: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Yes.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a further comment: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”