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

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "constantly changing" explanations had been unconvincing.

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

Fresh Claims Emerge

A published report last month documented the accounts of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

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

Since then, additional individuals have emerged; about 20 people have now stated they were either subject to or witnesses to highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

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

They also reference his reluctance to discipline a fellow Reform MP, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the comments.

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

He continued: “Arguing that a group of people have somehow forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he urgently needs acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a separate interview, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a particular way to say something, but also not to say something,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications before the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an appearance, remarking: “Did I say things decades ago that you could view 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 once intentionally sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently put out a further comment: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, so long ago.”