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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his past behaviour. He noted that the politician's "shifting" denials had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Emerge

A series of inquiries last month outlined the accounts of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority 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 addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have come forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either victims of or witnesses to hurtful conduct by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

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

Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his denials.

They also point to his reluctance to discipline a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the comments.

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

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

Call for Leadership

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he has to confront the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

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

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would understand as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also not to say something,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an interview, stating: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, decades in the past.”