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The United Kingdom's attorney general, Richard Hermer, has demanded Nigel Farage to apologise to former schoolmates who claim he racially abused them during their years in education.

Hermer stated that Farage had "obviously deeply hurt" many people, according to their descriptions of his past behaviour. He noted that the leader's "shifting" explanations had been difficult to believe.

“Throughout his defensive responses to legitimate questions, not once has Farage genuinely condemned antisemitism,” Hermer informed a publication.

Fresh Claims Emerge

A published report last month outlined the testimony of several one-time schoolmates of Farage from a south London school.

One, Peter Ettedgui, recalled that a teenage Farage "came up to me and growl: ‘The Nazi leader was correct’ or ‘send them to the gas chambers’, occasionally including a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers”.

Another pupil from an ethnic minority claimed that when he was about nine, he was singled out by a 17-year-old Farage.

“He approached a pupil accompanied by two similarly tall mates and spoke to anyone looking ‘other’,” the person said. “That involved me on three separate times; asking me where I was from, and gesturing, saying: ‘That’s the way back,’ to any place you answered you were from.”

After the story broke, more people have come forward; around two dozen people have now alleged they were either victims of or witnesses to hurtful actions by Farage.

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

Evolving Explanations

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

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

They also reference his inability to discipline a party member, Sarah Pochin, after she made remarks about the number of ethnic minorities 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] not credible, to say the least,” Hermer stated.

He continued: “Claiming that two dozen individuals have somehow recalled incorrectly the same things about his nasty behaviour simply lacks credibility."

Call for Leadership

“If he wants to be seen as a legitimate candidate for the top job, he has to confront the concerns of the Jewish people, and say sorry to the those he has obviously deeply hurt by his behaviour,” Hermer stated.

“Prejudice in all its forms is anathema to the principles of this country and we should not let it to ever become accepted in public life.”

In a other comments, the Chancellor said Farage should “speak out” if he wanted to be considered a genuine leader.

“It says a lot how very little he has to say, and the very careful language that both you and I would understand as being drafted in a particular way to say something, but also dodge the issue,” she noted.

Formal Denials and Subsequent Comments

In formal correspondence prior to the release of the report, Farage’s representatives stated that “the allegation that Mr Farage ever took part in, supported, or led racist or antisemitic behaviour is categorically denied”.

Farage later appeared to change his explanation in an appearance, saying: “Have I said things as a youth that you could view as being banter, you could interpret in a modern light today in some sort of way? Possibly.”

He added that he had “not once intentionally really tried to go and hurt anybody”. Farage later put out a further comment: “I can tell you definitely that I did not say the things that have been reported when I was 13, so long ago.”