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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has urged Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his alleged conduct. He noted that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been unconvincing.

“Throughout his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

New Allegations Surface

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

One, Peter Ettedgui, said that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority stated that when he was about nine, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

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

Following the initial report, more people have stepped forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either subject to or observed hurtful actions by Farage.

The alleged events they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the former classmates were misremembering.

Commentators have highlighted that Farage has failed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism outright in his denials.

They also cite his inability to sanction a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He continued: “Claiming that 20 people have all forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he urgently needs confront 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 standards of this country and we should not let it to ever become legitimised in society.”

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “say something” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a certain style to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his stance in an interview, stating: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some way? Possibly.”

He commented that he had “not once intentionally attempted 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 reported as a 13-year-old, decades in the past.”