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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he racially abused them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his past behaviour. He commented that the politician's "shifting" statements had been less than credible.

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

New Allegations Come to Light

A recent investigation last month outlined the accounts of several former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That happened to me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, more people have come forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either victims of or saw deeply offensive actions by Farage.

The behaviour they outlined relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

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

Commentators have noted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his statements.

They also point to his failure to sanction a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the remarks.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He went on to say: “Arguing that 20 people have somehow forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

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

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the principles of this country and we must not permit it to ever become legitimised in public life.”

In a separate interview, the Chancellor said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would understand as being crafted in a certain style to say something, but also not to say something,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an appearance, saying: “Have I said things as a youth that you could see as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not ever purposely attempted to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported when I was 13, decades in the past.”