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The United Kingdom's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer stated 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" explanations had been difficult to believe.

“During his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

New Allegations Emerge

A recent investigation last month documented the testimony of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, others have come forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either victims of or saw hurtful conduct by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the individuals were misremembering.

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

They also reference his failure to sanction a colleague in his party, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He added: “Claiming that two dozen individuals have all forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he has to address the concerns of the Jewish people, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Prejudice in all its forms is abhorrent to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become accepted in politics.”

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

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a certain style to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, approved of, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally sought 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 printed aged 13, decades in the past.”