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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He noted that the politician's "shifting" denials had been difficult to believe.

“In his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month outlined the statements of more than a dozen former classmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have come forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either victims of or witnesses to hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were not telling the truth.

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

They also point to his failure to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the comments.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Claiming that a group of people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he has to confront the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the principles of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in politics.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a real 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 avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his position in an appearance, stating: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”