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

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "evolving" explanations had been less than credible.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

A published report last month documented the testimony of over a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He approached a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the person said. “That involved me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have emerged; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either targets of or saw deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined span the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were misremembering.

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

They also point to his failure to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks 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 schoolmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He went on to say: “Arguing that 20 people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he must address the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism 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, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a real leader.

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would identify as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led this behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards released a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, so long ago.”