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The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has urged Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who allege he racially abused them during their time at school.

Hermer stated that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his actions as a youth. He noted that the leader's "evolving" statements had been difficult to believe.

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

Further Testimonies Surface

A recent investigation last month outlined the accounts of more than a dozen one-time schoolmates of Farage from Dulwich College.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a teenage Farage "would approach me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to mimic the sound of the Nazi gas chambers”.

Another student of colour alleged that when he was roughly nine years old, he was similarly targeted by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil flanked by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘different’,” the person said. “That included 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; around two dozen people have now claimed they were either victims of or witnesses to highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The behaviour they described relate to the period when Farage was aged a teenager.

Changing Stories

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

Critics have noted that Farage has not managed to condemn antisemitism and other forms of racism in a wider sense in his responses.

They also reference his reluctance to sanction a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in adverts. She later apologised for the comments.

“Nigel Farage’s shifting account about his behaviour to his peers [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer said.

He continued: “Suggesting that two dozen individuals have all misremembered the same things about his offensive behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for prime minister, he urgently needs address the anxieties of the Jewish community, and say sorry to the numerous individuals he has clearly deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer said.

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

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to appear as a genuine leader.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the precisely drafted words that both you and I would identify as being crafted in a certain style to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she remarked.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In legal letters prior to the release of the investigation, Farage’s legal team claimed that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever engaged in, approved of, or led such conduct is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his explanation in an discussion, stating: “Did I say things as a youth that you could see as being playground talk, you could interpret in a today's standards today in some way? Yes.”

He added that he had “not once intentionally attempted to go and hurt anybody”. Farage later released a new statement: “I can tell you unequivocally that I did not say the things that have been published as a 13-year-old, so long ago.”