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

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his past behaviour. He commented that the leader's "evolving" statements had been less than credible.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month detailed the testimony of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil with two equally tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have emerged; around two dozen people have now stated they were either victims of or witnesses to highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the former classmates were being untruthful.

Observers have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also point to his reluctance to reprimand a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the remarks.

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

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

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he has to acknowledge the fears of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Prejudice in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted 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 very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would recognise as being drafted in a certain style to communicate, but also not to say something,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the publication of the report, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an interview, stating: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in a certain manner? Yes.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, so long ago.”