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The United Kingdom's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He added that the leader's "shifting" denials had been difficult to believe.

“During his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A recent investigation last month detailed the statements of over a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a south London school.

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

Another minority ethnic pupil alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil with two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That included me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, additional individuals have emerged; about 20 people have now stated they were either victims of or witnesses to hurtful conduct by Farage.

The incidents they recounted cover 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 asserted the accusers were being untruthful.

Commentators have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his statements.

They also point to his reluctance to reprimand a colleague in his party, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He continued: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have all misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he must address the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the values of this country and we should not let it to ever become normalised in politics.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to be considered 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 say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an appearance, stating: “Did I say things decades ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and upset 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, so long ago.”