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The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his past behaviour. He commented that the leader's "constantly changing" explanations had been difficult to believe.

“During his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Surface

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

One, a former pupil, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘different’,” the person said. “That included me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have come forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either targets of or witnesses to deeply offensive conduct by Farage.

The incidents they described relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were not telling the truth.

Commentators have pointed out that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his statements.

They also reference his failure to sanction a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the statements.

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

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

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he must confront the concerns of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the values of this country and we should not let it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a different discussion, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how very 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 not to say something,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers claimed that “the implication that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an appearance, saying: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Yes.”

He added that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage later put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”