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

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "constantly changing" statements had been difficult to believe.

“During his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Further Testimonies Emerge

A recent investigation last month outlined the testimony of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil with two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have stepped forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either subject to or witnesses to hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

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

Changing Stories

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were not telling the truth.

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

They also point to his failure to sanction a party member, a MP, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the remarks.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

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

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he has to confront the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” 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 drafted in a particular way to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the release of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an discussion, saying: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “never directly attempted to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, so long ago.”