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

Hermer said that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "shifting" denials had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

New Allegations Surface

A published report last month documented the statements of more than a dozen former classmates 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 ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That included me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have stepped forward; approximately twenty people have now alleged they were either victims of or saw deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the accusers were being untruthful.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his responses.

They also point to his failure to discipline a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the comments.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Suggesting that a group of people have all misremembered the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he has to address the concerns of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those 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 should not let it to ever become normalised in public life.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to appear as a real leader.

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

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his position in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”