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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 school contemporaries who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He noted that the politician's "shifting" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

A published report last month outlined the statements of more than a dozen former classmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority stated that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil with two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That included me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either targets of or witnesses to deeply offensive conduct by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined span the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were being untruthful.

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

They also cite his reluctance to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He added: “Claiming that 20 people have somehow forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he has to acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Prejudice in all its forms is anathema to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become normalised in politics.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would recognise as being drafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also not to say something,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers claimed that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an interview, saying: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “never directly really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”