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

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his past behaviour. He noted that the politician's "evolving" denials had been unconvincing.

“During his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A series of inquiries last month outlined the accounts of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

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

Another student of colour stated that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have come forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either subject to or observed hurtful actions by Farage.

The incidents they described span the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were misremembering.

Observers have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also cite his inability to discipline a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the statements.

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Suggesting that a group of people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he urgently needs confront the anxieties of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

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

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being crafted in a specific manner to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”