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

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their accounts of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "shifting" explanations had been unconvincing.

“During his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A series of inquiries last month detailed the testimony of over a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That included me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

Since then, others have emerged; about 20 people have now stated they were either subject to or saw hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the former classmates were not telling the truth.

Commentators have pointed out that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also reference his inability to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the comments.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Suggesting that a group of people have all misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he must confront the fears of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

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

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being written in a specific manner to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence before the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an interview, remarking: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “never directly attempted to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a further comment: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, so long ago.”