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The UK's attorney general, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has demanded Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He added that the politician's "evolving" denials had been difficult to believe.

“In his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Emerge

A published report last month documented the testimony of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

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

The behaviour they described relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the individuals were not telling the truth.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his denials.

They also point to his inability to sanction a colleague in his party, a MP, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the comments.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he urgently needs acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a specific manner to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an appearance, stating: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage later released a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”