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The UK's top law officer, Richard Hermer, has urged the Reform UK leader to apologise to school contemporaries who claim he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer remarked that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, based on their accounts of his actions as a youth. He commented that the politician's "constantly changing" denials had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his answers to valid inquiries, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer told a news outlet.

New Allegations Come to Light

A published report last month detailed the accounts of several former classmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, a former pupil, described that a 13-year-old Farage "came up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, at times making a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil claimed that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a older Farage.

“He walked up to a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and targeted anyone looking ‘other’,” the former student said. “That happened to me on three separate times; questioning me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you replied you were from.”

Following the initial report, others have stepped forward; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either targets of or saw highly inappropriate conduct by Farage.

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

Changing Stories

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "blatantly" racist or antisemitic, and has asserted the accusers were not telling the truth.

Observers have pointed out that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his denials.

They also reference his reluctance to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the remarks.

“His constantly changing story about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He went on to say: “Suggesting that a group of people have somehow misremembered the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Question of Character

“If he wants to be seen as a serious contender for high office, he must address the fears of the Jewish people, and apologise to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Racism in all its forms is abhorrent to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become accepted in politics.”

In a different discussion, the Chancellor said Farage should “make a statement” 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 particular way to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In lawyers' communications prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team asserted that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever was involved in, supported, or led this behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later appeared to change his position in an discussion, saying: “Did I say things 50 years ago that you could view as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Yes.”

He added that he had “not ever purposely really tried to go and upset anybody”. Farage subsequently released a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been reported aged 13, decades in the past.”