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The UK's top law officer, one of the most senior Jewish ministers, has urged Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their accounts of his past behaviour. He added that the leader's "evolving" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A recent investigation last month detailed the testimony of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority alleged that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have emerged; approximately twenty people have now alleged they were either subject to or witnesses to hurtful actions by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed 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 responses.

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

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He went on to say: “Suggesting that 20 people have all misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

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

“Prejudice in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

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

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications before the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his position in an discussion, stating: “Have I said things as a youth that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage later released a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”