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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "constantly changing" explanations had been less than credible.

“In his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

New Allegations Surface

A published report last month outlined the statements of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, recalled that a 13-year-old 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 gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That included me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either subject to or saw highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the former classmates were misremembering.

Commentators have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his responses.

They also cite his inability to reprimand a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the statements.

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

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he must acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish people, and apologise to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become normalised in public life.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a specific manner to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers claimed that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an interview, saying: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Yes.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently put out a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, decades in the past.”