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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his past behaviour. He noted that the politician's "constantly changing" statements had been unconvincing.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

A recent investigation last month outlined the accounts of several ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

Since then, more people have emerged; approximately twenty people have now alleged they were either victims of or witnesses to hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

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

Observers have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his denials.

They also cite his reluctance to sanction a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the remarks.

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

He added: “Arguing that two dozen individuals have somehow forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he has to acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.

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

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later altered his position in an interview, stating: “Did I say things as a youth that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Yes.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently released a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, so long ago.”