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

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He added that the leader's "shifting" explanations had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A recent investigation last month outlined the accounts of over a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the person said. “That involved me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have emerged; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either subject to or witnesses to hurtful conduct by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed 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 statements.

They also point to his inability to reprimand a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Suggesting that 20 people 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 credible figure for high office, he urgently needs confront the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we must not permit it to ever become normalised in public life.”

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

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

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an discussion, stating: “Have I said things as a youth that you could interpret as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, so long ago.”