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

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He commented that the leader's "shifting" explanations had been difficult to believe.

“During his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Surface

A recent investigation last month outlined the testimony of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, said that a teenage Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

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

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That happened to me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now stated they were either targets of or witnesses to deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined span the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were not telling the truth.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his responses.

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

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

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

Call for Leadership

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he must confront the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Prejudice in all its forms is completely opposed to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also not to say something,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an interview, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage later released a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, so long ago.”