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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his actions as a youth. He commented that the leader's "shifting" denials had been less than credible.

“In his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Further Testimonies Emerge

A recent investigation last month detailed the accounts of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate 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 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil with two equally tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, others have emerged; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either victims of or saw highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also cite his inability to sanction a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He continued: “Arguing that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he has to acknowledge the fears of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would recognise as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever engaged in, approved of, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his position in an appearance, stating: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards released a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, so long ago.”