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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their accounts of his alleged conduct. He noted that the leader's "evolving" denials had been less than credible.

“During his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Surface

A series of inquiries last month documented the testimony of several ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That included me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have emerged; about 20 people have now claimed they were either victims of or observed deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the former classmates were not telling the truth.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also point to his inability to reprimand a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the comments.

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

He continued: “Arguing that 20 people have all forgotten the same things about his offensive behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

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

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

In a different discussion, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a specific manner to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an discussion, remarking: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “never directly sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage later put out a further comment: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”