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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He commented that the leader's "constantly changing" explanations had been difficult to believe.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

A recent investigation last month detailed the statements of more than a dozen former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That included me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Since then, more people have emerged; approximately twenty people have now alleged they were either targets of or witnesses to highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The alleged events they described cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

Critics have highlighted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his denials.

They also reference his reluctance to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he has to acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters before the release of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later altered his stance in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things as a youth that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued a further comment: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, decades in the past.”