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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to school contemporaries who allege he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "shifting" denials had been difficult to believe.

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

Further Testimonies Come to Light

A published report last month detailed the accounts of several ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour claimed that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, additional individuals have emerged; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or observed deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were not telling the truth.

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his statements.

They also cite his inability to discipline a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the remarks.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Suggesting that a group of people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

“If he wants to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he must confront the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the standards of this country and we should not let it to ever become accepted in society.”

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how 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 said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later altered his explanation in an discussion, stating: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”