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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He commented that the leader's "evolving" explanations had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A recent investigation last month outlined the statements of several ex-pupils of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a teenage Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

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

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have come forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either victims of or saw deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were misremembering.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also point to his inability to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the comments.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

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

Question of Character

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

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we must not permit it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an discussion, stating: “Have I said things decades ago that you could interpret as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

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