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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

New Allegations Emerge

A series of inquiries last month outlined the statements of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil with two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That included me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now stated they were either targets of or witnesses to hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The alleged events they described relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the individuals were being untruthful.

Observers have pointed out that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also cite his reluctance to discipline a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the comments.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Arguing that a group of people have all forgotten the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he must acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the many people 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 must not permit it to ever become legitimised in politics.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would understand as being drafted in a certain style to communicate, but also not to say something,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications before the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an appearance, remarking: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Yes.”

He said that he had “never directly sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently put out a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”