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The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their accounts of his alleged conduct. He noted that the leader's "evolving" denials had been difficult to believe.

“During his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

New Allegations Come to Light

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

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

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil with two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That happened to me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Since then, more people have emerged; around two dozen people have now stated they were either victims of or witnesses to highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The incidents they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were not telling the truth.

Critics have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also reference his failure to sanction a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Claiming that two dozen individuals have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he must address the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a separate interview, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being drafted in a certain style to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters before the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led such conduct is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an interview, remarking: “Did I say things decades ago that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a further comment: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, so long ago.”