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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their accounts of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been less than credible.

“Throughout his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

New Allegations Come to Light

A published report last month outlined the statements of several former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

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

“He walked up to a pupil with two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That included me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have come forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either victims of or observed deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The behaviour they described relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the individuals were being untruthful.

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

They also cite his reluctance to reprimand a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the comments.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He added: “Arguing that a group of people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he has to confront the fears of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Prejudice in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we should not let it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a real leader.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a certain style to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an discussion, saying: “Have I said things as a youth that you could interpret as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely 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 reported when I was 13, so long ago.”