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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He noted that the leader's "shifting" denials had been less than credible.

“Throughout his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

New Allegations Emerge

A published report last month detailed the statements of several former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding 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 came over to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That happened to me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Since then, others have emerged; approximately twenty people have now claimed they were either victims of or observed highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they described relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were being untruthful.

Observers have highlighted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also cite his failure to reprimand a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

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

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he has to acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a different discussion, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being written in a particular way to say something, but also not to say something,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the publication of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an discussion, saying: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards released a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, so long ago.”