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The United Kingdom's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has called on the Reform UK leader to issue an apology to former schoolmates who allege he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their descriptions of his alleged conduct. He added that the politician's "shifting" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Fresh Claims Come to Light

A recent investigation last month documented the testimony of over a dozen former classmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, a former pupil, described that a teenage Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘gas them’, occasionally including a long hiss to mimic 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 came over to a pupil flanked by two tall mates and addressed 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 wherever you replied you were from.”

Since then, others have stepped forward; approximately twenty people have now stated they were either targets of or saw hurtful past behaviour by Farage.

The behaviour they described relate to the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Denials and Shifting Positions

The Reform leader has rejected that anything he did was "directly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were misremembering.

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

They also reference his inability to reprimand a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of black and brown people she saw in television commercials. She later apologised for the comments.

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

He continued: “Claiming that a group of people have all forgotten the same things about his hurtful behaviour simply is not believable."

Call for Leadership

“If he wants to be seen as a serious contender for the top job, he must acknowledge the anxieties of the Jewish community, and apologise to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

“Bigotry in all its forms is completely opposed to the values of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become legitimised in society.”

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

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would recognise as being crafted in a certain style to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In legal letters before the publication of the report, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the suggestion that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later altered his position in an discussion, remarking: “Did I say things decades ago that you could see as being banter, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and hurt anybody”. Farage later issued a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published aged 13, so long ago.”