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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who assert he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "shifting" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A recent investigation last month outlined the testimony of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority claimed that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have come forward; approximately twenty people have now claimed they were either subject to or saw hurtful actions by Farage.

The alleged events they described cover 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 claimed the accusers were misremembering.

Commentators have noted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his responses.

They also cite his failure to discipline a party member, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

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

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he urgently needs address the fears of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Prejudice in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we should not let it to ever become normalised in politics.”

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

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an discussion, remarking: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely 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 reported when I was 13, so long ago.”