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The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer said that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "shifting" explanations had been less than credible.

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

Fresh Claims Surface

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

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

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

“He walked up to a pupil with two tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That included me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, additional individuals have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now stated they were either targets of or observed highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted span the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the individuals were not telling the truth.

Critics have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his statements.

They also point to his inability to discipline a colleague in his party, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Claiming that a group of people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he has to address the concerns of the Jewish people, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Prejudice in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a separate interview, the Chancellor said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to be considered a true statesman.

“It is very telling how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being drafted in a specific manner to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the publication of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led such conduct is strongly rejected”.

Farage later appeared to change his stance in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

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