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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his past behaviour. He commented that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A published report last month detailed the testimony of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, 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 older Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to wherever you replied you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have emerged; about 20 people have now alleged they were either victims of or observed hurtful actions by Farage.

The incidents they described cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

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

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his responses.

They also cite his inability to sanction 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 peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He went on to say: “Arguing that two dozen individuals have all misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he must acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a certain style to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence before the release of the report, Farage’s lawyers claimed that “the allegation 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, saying: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently released a further comment: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”