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The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who claim he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their accounts of his past behaviour. He noted that the politician's "evolving" denials had been difficult to believe.

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

Fresh Claims Emerge

A series of inquiries last month outlined the testimony of over a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to imitate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That included me on three separate times; inquiring where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either victims of or witnesses to hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the individuals were being untruthful.

Critics have highlighted that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his responses.

They also cite his reluctance to sanction a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in television commercials. She later expressed regret for the remarks.

“His evolving narrative about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Claiming that two dozen individuals have all recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he aspires to be seen as a legitimate candidate for high office, he must address the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is completely opposed to the values of this country and we must not permit it to ever become normalised in politics.”

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

“It says a lot how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a specific manner to communicate, but also avoid saying certain things,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the publication of the investigation, Farage’s representatives stated that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his explanation in an appearance, remarking: “Have I said things as a youth that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Perhaps.”

He commented that he had “not ever purposely sought to go and upset anybody”. Farage afterwards put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported when I was 13, so long ago.”