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The UK's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded Nigel Farage to issue an apology to school contemporaries who assert he targeted with racist abuse them during their school days.

Hermer said that Farage had "undoubtedly deeply hurt" many people, judging by their accounts of his actions as a youth. He commented that the leader's "shifting" statements had been less than credible.

“Throughout his replies to legitimate questions, not once has Farage actually condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a news outlet.

New Allegations Surface

A published report last month documented the testimony of more than a dozen former classmates of Farage from a private college.

One, Peter Ettedgui, described that a 13-year-old Farage "would sidle up to me and utter: ‘Hitler was right’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, sometimes adding a long hiss to mimic the sound of the gas showers”.

Another minority ethnic pupil alleged 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 targeted anyone looking ‘unusual’,” the former student 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.”

Following the initial report, others have stepped forward; about 20 people have now stated they were either subject to or witnesses to highly inappropriate actions by Farage.

The behaviour they recounted cover the period when Farage was aged between 13 and 18.

Evolving Explanations

The political figure has disputed that anything he did was "explicitly" racist or antisemitic, and has suggested the accusers were misremembering.

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

They also reference his inability to discipline a colleague in his party, Sarah Pochin, after she complained about the number of people of colour she saw in television commercials. She later said sorry for the statements.

“Nigel Farage’s constantly changing story about his behaviour to his schoolmates [is] unconvincing, to say the least,” Hermer commented.

He added: “Claiming that a group of people have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his offensive behaviour simply isn’t credible."

Call for Leadership

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

“Bigotry in all its forms is anathema to the standards of this country and we cannot allow it to ever become accepted in society.”

In a different discussion, a senior politician said Farage should “make a statement” if he wanted to look like a true statesman.

“It speaks volumes how little he has to say, and the guarded phrasing that both you and I would identify as being drafted in a certain style to communicate, but also dodge the issue,” she said.

Legal Letters and Later Statements

In formal correspondence before the release of the report, Farage’s legal team stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, condoned, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is completely refuted”.

Farage later seemingly shifted his stance in an discussion, saying: “Have I said things 50 years ago that you could interpret as being teenage humour, you could interpret in a modern light today in a certain manner? Perhaps.”

He said that he had “never directly sought to go and harm anybody”. Farage later issued a new statement: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been printed as a 13-year-old, nearly 50 years ago.”