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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He added that the leader's "evolving" denials had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month documented the statements of several former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, described that a teenage Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ 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 about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have emerged; about 20 people have now alleged they were either subject to or witnesses to deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were misremembering.

Critics have highlighted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his responses.

They also reference his reluctance to discipline a colleague in his party, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Suggesting that 20 people have somehow forgotten the same things about his offensive behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he urgently needs address the concerns of the Jewish people, and apologise to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the standards of this country and we should not let it to ever become accepted in public life.”

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

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an appearance, 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 sort of way? Perhaps.”

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