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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

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

“Throughout his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

New Allegations Come to Light

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

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil alleged that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Since then, others have come forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either targets of or saw hurtful conduct by Farage.

The behaviour they described relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his statements.

They also cite his reluctance to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the comments.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Claiming that 20 people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he urgently needs confront the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become normalised in politics.”

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

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being written in a certain style to say something, but also not to say something,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

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

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an appearance, stating: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and hurt anybody”. Farage later released a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”