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The United Kingdom's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded Nigel Farage to apologise to school contemporaries who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his past behaviour. He noted that the leader's "constantly changing" explanations had been unconvincing.

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

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A recent investigation last month documented the testimony of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour claimed that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have come forward; approximately twenty people have now alleged they were either victims of or observed deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were not telling the truth.

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his statements.

They also cite his inability to sanction a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Claiming that 20 people have all misremembered the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

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

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in politics.”

In a separate interview, the Chancellor said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would understand as being written in a particular way to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed 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 interview, stating: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage later put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”