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The United Kingdom's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

“In his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Surface

A published report last month detailed the accounts of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, said that a teenage Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, 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 subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the person said. “That included me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

After the story broke, others have come forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either victims of or witnesses to deeply offensive actions by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

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

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also point to his failure to sanction a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the statements.

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

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

Call for Leadership

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he must address the concerns of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in politics.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to appear as a real leader.

“It speaks volumes 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 say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later altered his explanation in an discussion, remarking: “Have I said things as a youth that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been published when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”