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The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He added that the politician's "shifting" denials had been less than credible.

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

New Allegations Emerge

A recent investigation last month outlined the accounts of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That included me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have stepped forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or observed highly inappropriate conduct by Farage.

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

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were misremembering.

Observers have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also point to his failure to reprimand a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the comments.

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

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he urgently needs confront the anxieties of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become legitimised in public life.”

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

“It is very telling how very 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 communicate, but also not to say something,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence before the release of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his position in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things as a youth that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and hurt anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”