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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He noted that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been less than credible.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A published report last month documented the statements of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either victims of or observed hurtful conduct by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Changing Stories

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

Commentators have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his statements.

They also reference his inability to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He went on to say: “Claiming that 20 people have somehow misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he urgently needs acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the standards of this country and we must not permit it to ever become normalised in society.”

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

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an discussion, remarking: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards released a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”