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The United Kingdom's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

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

“During his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Surface

A recent investigation last month outlined the accounts of over a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now stated they were either subject to or observed deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The incidents they described span the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were being untruthful.

Observers have pointed out that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his statements.

They also cite his reluctance to sanction a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

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

He added: “Suggesting that 20 people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he urgently needs address the fears of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in public life.”

In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being drafted in a certain style to say something, but also not to say something,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the release of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an discussion, saying: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, decades in the past.”