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The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has demanded the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to school contemporaries who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He noted that the leader's "evolving" explanations had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his defensive responses to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a publication.

Further Testimonies Emerge

A published report last month detailed the testimony of more than a dozen former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, 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 17-year-old Farage.

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

Following the initial report, additional individuals have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either victims of or saw highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The incidents they described cover the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Evolving Explanations

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

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

They also cite his reluctance to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later expressed regret for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Arguing that two dozen individuals have somehow forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he must acknowledge the concerns of the Jewish community, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

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

In a different discussion, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to appear as a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being written in a particular way to say something, but also avoid saying certain things,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the report, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led this behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an discussion, saying: “Have I said things as a youth that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a contemporary context today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He said that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently issued a new statement: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, so long ago.”