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The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has called on the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his alleged conduct. He noted that the leader's "evolving" statements had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Further Testimonies Surface

A recent investigation last month detailed the accounts of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

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

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That included me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have stepped forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either subject to or witnesses to hurtful actions by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

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

Observers have pointed out that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his denials.

They also point to his reluctance to sanction a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the comments.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Claiming that 20 people have all misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he must confront the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in society.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

“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 specific manner to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an interview, remarking: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued 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.”