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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has demanded Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their accounts of his past behaviour. He noted that the leader's "constantly changing" explanations had been unconvincing.

“During his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A recent investigation last month documented the accounts of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He came over to a pupil with two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That involved me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

Since then, others have emerged; about 20 people have now alleged they were either victims of or saw hurtful actions by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined span the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were misremembering.

Commentators have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also cite his failure to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the remarks.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Suggesting that 20 people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his nasty behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he must address the anxieties of the Jewish people, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a real leader.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, condoned, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an appearance, stating: “Have I said things as a youth that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards released a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, decades in the past.”