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The United Kingdom's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his past behaviour. He noted that the politician's "evolving" denials had been less than credible.

“During his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Further Testimonies Surface

A published report last month documented the testimony of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a older Farage.

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

After the story broke, more people have emerged; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either victims of or saw highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

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

Observers have highlighted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also cite his reluctance to discipline a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the remarks.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he urgently needs confront the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would understand as being crafted in a certain style to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications before the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “never directly attempted to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards released a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, so long ago.”