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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has demanded Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "clearly deeply hurt" many people, based on their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He noted that the politician's "shifting" statements had been unconvincing.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A published report last month detailed the statements of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority stated that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three occasions; questioning me where I was from, and motioning, saying: ‘That's how you get 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 subject to or saw hurtful conduct by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has denied that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the former classmates were being untruthful.

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

They also reference his reluctance to reprimand a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in adverts. She later said sorry for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He added: “Arguing that 20 people have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Question of Character

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

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

In a other comments, Rachel Reeves said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would understand as being written in a certain style to communicate, but also not to say something,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications before the release of the investigation, Farage’s representatives asserted that “the implication that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is strongly rejected”.

Farage later altered his position in an interview, stating: “Have I said things decades ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He added that he had “never directly really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage later put out a fresh denial: “I can tell you categorically that I did not say the things that have been reported as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”