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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "shifting" denials had been unconvincing.

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

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A published report last month documented the testimony of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

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

Another student of colour stated that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old 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; 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 alleged they were either victims of or saw deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The incidents they described cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the individuals were being untruthful.

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

They also reference his inability to discipline a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the remarks.

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

He added: “Claiming that 20 people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

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

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in politics.”

In a separate interview, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a particular way to say something, but also not to say something,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the publication of the report, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led such conduct is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things decades ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards released a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”