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The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has called on the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who claim he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He added that the leader's "constantly changing" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Further Testimonies Come to Light

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

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

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

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have emerged; about 20 people have now alleged they were either subject to or saw highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined span the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the former classmates 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 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 constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he has to acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in politics.”

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the report, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an appearance, remarking: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued a further comment: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”