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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He noted that the leader's "evolving" denials had been difficult to believe.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month documented the accounts of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle 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 gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority claimed that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either victims of or saw hurtful conduct by Farage.

The incidents they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were being untruthful.

Critics have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his responses.

They also reference his reluctance to discipline a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the remarks.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He went on to say: “Claiming that a group of people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Question of Character

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

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we should not let it to ever become normalised in society.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

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

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications before the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an discussion, stating: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage later issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”