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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has urged Nigel Farage to issue an apology to former schoolmates who claim he targeted with racist abuse them during their time at school.

Hermer said that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their testimonies of his actions as a youth. He noted that the politician's "constantly changing" statements had been unconvincing.

“During his replies to valid inquiries, not once has Farage truly condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

New Allegations Come to Light

A series of inquiries last month outlined the accounts of over a dozen ex-pupils of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, at times making a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority claimed that when he was about nine, he was subjected to similar treatment by a older Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and addressed anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That happened to me on three occasions; asking me where I was from, and pointing away, saying: ‘That's how you get back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Since then, additional individuals have come forward; about 20 people have now alleged they were either victims of or witnesses to highly inappropriate past behaviour by Farage.

The alleged events they outlined cover the period when Farage was aged 13 to 18.

Evolving Explanations

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

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

They also point to his reluctance to reprimand a fellow Reform MP, Sarah Pochin, after she expressed views about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s evolving narrative about his behaviour to his Jewish classmates [is] hard to believe, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He continued: “Claiming that 20 people have somehow forgotten the same things about his nasty behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

“If he aspires to be seen as a credible figure for prime minister, he has to address the fears of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Prejudice in all its forms is completely opposed to the values of this country and we should not let it to ever become accepted in society.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to look like a real leader.

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

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s lawyers asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later altered his stance in an appearance, saying: “Did I say things as a youth that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published when I was 13, nearly 50 years ago.”