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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded Nigel Farage to issue an apology 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 descriptions of his alleged conduct. He commented that the politician's "shifting" denials had been difficult to believe.

“In his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

New Allegations Come to Light

A published report last month documented the testimony of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He approached a pupil with two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you said you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have emerged; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or saw deeply offensive actions by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

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

They also cite his inability to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He went on to say: “Suggesting that a group of people have somehow forgotten the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he has to acknowledge the fears 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 completely opposed to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in politics.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his position in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”