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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has demanded Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "shifting" statements had been less than credible.

“In his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

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

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority stated that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil with two equally tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you said you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have come forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either victims of or observed highly inappropriate conduct by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the individuals were misremembering.

Critics have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also point to his inability to reprimand a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Suggesting that 20 people have somehow forgotten the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he has to address the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the standards of this country and we must not permit it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters before the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an interview, stating: “Did I say things decades ago that you could interpret as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published when I was 13, so long ago.”