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The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He added that the leader's "evolving" statements had been difficult to believe.

“During his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A published report last month outlined the statements 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 utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That included me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

After the story broke, others have come forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either victims of or observed deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted span the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were misremembering.

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

They also reference his failure to discipline a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

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

He went on to say: “Suggesting that 20 people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

“If he wishes to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he must confront the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer concluded.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the values 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 “say something” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would understand as being crafted in a particular way to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters before the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently released a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, decades in the past.”