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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer said that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his past behaviour. He noted that the leader's "constantly changing" explanations had been less than credible.

“During his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a publication.

Further Testimonies Surface

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

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

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

“He came over to a pupil with two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have come forward; approximately twenty people have now claimed they were either targets of or witnesses to hurtful conduct by Farage.

The alleged events they described relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were not telling the truth.

Observers have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his denials.

They also cite his inability to sanction a party member, a MP, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Arguing that 20 people have somehow misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he must address the anxieties of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Prejudice in all its forms is completely opposed to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become normalised in politics.”

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

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would understand as being written in a specific manner to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his position in an discussion, stating: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently released a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”