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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on the Reform UK leader to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He commented that the politician's "shifting" denials had been less than credible.

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

Fresh Claims Emerge

A recent investigation last month outlined the testimony of several ex-pupils of Farage from a south London school.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would approach me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another student of colour stated that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He came over to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the individual said. “That involved me on three occasions; inquiring where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to wherever you said you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have stepped forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either targets of or observed hurtful conduct by Farage.

The incidents they outlined span the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were not telling the truth.

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

They also point to his reluctance to discipline a party member, a MP, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the statements.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

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

Question of Character

“If he aspires to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he urgently needs address the anxieties of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Racism in all its forms is anathema to the principles of this country and we must not permit it to ever become normalised in public life.”

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

“It is very telling how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a particular way to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, approved of, or led such conduct 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 modern light today in some sort of way? Yes.”

He added that he had “never directly attempted to go and hurt anybody”. Farage afterwards issued a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”