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

Hermer stated that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He noted that the politician's "shifting" denials had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Fresh Claims Surface

A recent investigation last month documented the statements of several ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

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

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That involved me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have come forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either victims of or observed deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the individuals were misremembering.

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

They also cite his failure to sanction a colleague in his party, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the comments.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Arguing that 20 people have somehow forgotten the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he must acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Prejudice in all its forms is completely opposed to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in politics.”

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

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being written in a particular way to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence before the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an discussion, stating: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “never directly attempted to go and hurt anybody”. Farage subsequently put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, decades in the past.”