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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He commented that the leader's "constantly changing" explanations had been unconvincing.

“In his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

Further Testimonies Surface

A series of inquiries last month documented the accounts of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a south London school.

One, a former pupil, said that a teenage Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour claimed that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That included me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ 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 subject to or witnesses to hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the accusers were misremembering.

Critics have highlighted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also reference his failure to sanction a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the remarks.

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

He went on to say: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he must acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Prejudice 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 other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications before the release of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things decades ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage later released a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, so long ago.”