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The UK'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 time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He commented that the politician's "constantly changing" statements had been less than credible.

“In his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A recent investigation last month detailed the testimony of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was roughly nine years old, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the person said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘Go back that way,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have emerged; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or witnesses to highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

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

Changing Stories

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

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism more broadly in his denials.

They also point to his failure to sanction a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Arguing that a group of people have somehow forgotten the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he must acknowledge 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 completely opposed to the principles of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in society.”

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

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a certain style to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she said.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the report, Farage’s legal team stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour 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 modern light today in a certain manner? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards released a fresh denial: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, decades in the past.”