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The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their accounts of his alleged conduct. He commented that the leader's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A published report last month detailed the testimony of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

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

Another pupil from an ethnic minority alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That included me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either victims of or saw deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The incidents they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were misremembering.

Observers have noted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also point to his inability to discipline a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He continued: “Claiming that two dozen individuals have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he has to acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in society.”

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also not to say something,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the release of the report, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an discussion, saying: “Did I say things decades ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Yes.”

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