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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He added that the leader's "constantly changing" statements had been less than credible.

“During his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

New Allegations Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month detailed the statements of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and say: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority alleged that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘different’,” the individual said. “That included me on three occasions; asking 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, more people have stepped forward; about 20 people have now claimed they were either subject to or witnesses to deeply offensive past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they described relate to the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

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

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

They also reference his reluctance to reprimand a party member, a MP, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He continued: “Suggesting that a group of people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his nasty behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he must address the anxieties of the Jewish people, and apologise to the many people he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we must not permit it to ever become accepted in society.”

In a separate interview, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being written in a particular way to say something, but also not to say something,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications before the release of the report, Farage’s representatives asserted 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 position in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things as a youth that you could see as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and hurt anybody”. Farage subsequently put out a further comment: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been published when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”