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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his past behaviour. He commented that the leader's "shifting" denials had been unconvincing.

“In his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Further Testimonies Come to Light

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

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Since then, more people have stepped forward; approximately twenty people have now alleged they were either targets of or observed highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were being untruthful.

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

They also reference his inability 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 statements.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He continued: “Suggesting that 20 people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a credible figure for high office, he must confront the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the many people 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 accepted in society.”

In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

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

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could view as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”