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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

“In his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Further Testimonies Surface

A series of inquiries last month detailed the accounts of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "would approach me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority stated 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 tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That happened to me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have come forward; approximately twenty people have now claimed they were either victims of or observed deeply offensive conduct by Farage.

The incidents they described relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the former classmates were not telling the truth.

Commentators have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also point to his inability to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He continued: “Arguing that a group of people have somehow forgotten the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he has to confront the concerns of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Prejudice in all its forms is abhorrent to the standards of this country and we should not let it to ever become legitimised in society.”

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

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a particular way to communicate, but also not to say something,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s legal team stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his position in an interview, stating: “Did I say things as a youth that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently 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.”