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The United Kingdom's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on 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 remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his past behaviour. He commented that the politician's "evolving" denials had been less than credible.

“In his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

New Allegations Come to Light

A recent investigation last month documented the statements of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either subject to or witnesses to hurtful conduct by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the accusers were not telling the truth.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also cite his reluctance to sanction a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Arguing that two dozen individuals have all forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he must acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a specific manner to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “never directly really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”