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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has called on Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his past behaviour. He commented that the leader's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Surface

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

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate 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 approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have come forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either victims of or saw deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Changing Stories

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the former classmates were being untruthful.

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

They also reference his reluctance to reprimand a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the comments.

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

He went on to say: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have somehow misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he must acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being drafted in a specific manner to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, supported, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his position in an discussion, stating: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage later put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, decades in the past.”