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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his past behaviour. He added that the politician's "constantly changing" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Further Testimonies Come to Light

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

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

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

“He came over to a pupil with two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

Since then, more people have stepped forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either subject to or saw highly inappropriate conduct by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

Observers have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his responses.

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

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Arguing that a group of people have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for the top job, he must acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the many people he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we should not let it to ever become legitimised in public life.”

In a separate interview, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a genuine leader.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a certain style to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the publication of the report, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an interview, remarking: “Did I say things as a youth that you could see as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Yes.”

He added that he had “never directly sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a further comment: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”