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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "evolving" statements had been difficult to believe.

“In his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

New Allegations Emerge

A recent investigation last month documented the accounts of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have emerged; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either subject to or observed highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were not telling the truth.

Observers have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his responses.

They also cite his reluctance to reprimand a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the remarks.

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He continued: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he has to address the fears of the Jewish people, and apologise to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become legitimised in public life.”

In a different discussion, the Chancellor said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters before the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an appearance, stating: “Have I said things as a youth that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He added that he had “never directly really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”