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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who allege he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He added that the leader's "evolving" statements had been less than credible.

“Throughout his answers to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer stated to a news outlet.

Further Testimonies Surface

A recent investigation last month outlined the statements of several former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, a former pupil, described that a teenage Farage "came up to me and say: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

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

“He approached a pupil flanked by two equally tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the individual said. “That included me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you said you were from.”

Following the initial report, additional individuals have stepped forward; approximately twenty people have now claimed they were either subject to or saw highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The incidents they outlined span the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Changing Stories

The Reform leader has rejected that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has claimed the accusers were being untruthful.

Commentators have pointed out that Farage has neglected to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his statements.

They also point to his reluctance to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the statements.

“His shifting account about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He went on to say: “Suggesting that 20 people have all forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Demand for Accountability

“If he wishes to be seen as a serious contender for prime minister, he has to confront the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

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

In a separate interview, a senior politician 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 very careful language that both you and I would understand as being written in a certain style to say something, but also not to say something,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence before the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers stated that “the implication that Mr Farage ever took part in, approved of, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an interview, stating: “Did I say things as a youth that you could see as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in some way? Yes.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage subsequently released a fresh denial: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been printed aged 13, nearly 50 years ago.”