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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He commented that the politician's "evolving" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month documented the accounts of more than a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That involved me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either victims of or observed deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The behaviour they described relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

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

Observers have highlighted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his responses.

They also reference his failure to reprimand a colleague in his party, a MP, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

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

“Bigotry in all its forms is abhorrent to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become normalised in politics.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being written in a particular way to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever engaged in, condoned, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an discussion, remarking: “Did I say things decades ago that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “never directly sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage later put out a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed when I was 13, decades in the past.”