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The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his past behaviour. He commented that the politician's "shifting" statements had been less than credible.

“Throughout his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Surface

A recent investigation last month outlined the statements of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, described that a teenage Farage "would approach 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 alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have emerged; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either subject to or saw highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

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

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

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

They also cite his failure to sanction a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Claiming that two dozen individuals have all misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he must confront the fears of the Jewish people, and apologise to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in public life.”

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a real leader.

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being drafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

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

He said that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage later released a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”