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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their accounts of his past behaviour. He noted that the leader's "constantly changing" explanations had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A series of inquiries last month detailed the statements of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have stepped forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or saw deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

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

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the individuals were misremembering.

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

They also cite his failure to sanction a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the comments.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He added: “Suggesting that 20 people have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Demand for Accountability

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

“Prejudice in all its forms is completely opposed to the standards of this country and we must not permit 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 true statesman.

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would recognise as being drafted in a certain style to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

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

Farage later appeared to change his position in an appearance, remarking: “Did I say things decades ago that you could interpret as being playground talk, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a further comment: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published when I was 13, so long ago.”