Reform UK faces a crisis after undercover footage revealed councillors and candidates making racist, misogynistic, and violent remarks, prompting resignations and internal investigations.
The party’s leader, Nigel Farage, has faced mounting pressure following a year-long undercover investigation by ITV, which captured Reform officials making inflammatory comments. Three councillors have resigned, and the party acknowledged no room for racism
in a statement, though it disputed the methods used by the broadcaster.
Undercover Film Shows Racist Remarks by Reform UK Members
Undercover reporters for ITV’s Exposure program filmed Reform councillors and candidates making extreme remarks, including calls for violence against migrants and Muslims. Alan Feeney, a Reform councillor and deputy mayor of Solihull, was recorded referring to Asian homeowners as “parasites” and claiming no more than 1% of the British population can be non-white.
Feeney later resigned for personal reasons,
though the party linked his comments to the investigation.
Feeney was also filmed discussing a female Reform candidate from Solihull, using sexist and sexually aggressive language.
Reform UK Investigates Misconduct After Undercover Claims
Reform UK stated it had improved vetting procedures but acknowledged a handful of individuals who do not share our values
occasionally slip through. The party confirmed investigations into those filmed, with some suspended or resigned. A spokesperson said, Where members, activists, and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced.
Councillor Chris Whelan announced his resignation from Reform. The party also accused ITV of extreme methods of deception,
alleging the broadcaster infiltrated its headquarters using falsified documents. A separate parliamentary standards commissioner investigation is examining whether Farage should have declared a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
The investigation involved eight figures in Reform, according to the BBC, with ITV reporters joining a Reform councillor, Alan Feeney, in Solihull, where he was campaigning to retain his seat on the council. Feeney, who defected from the Conservative Party in 2025, was recorded saying the area had been infested
with Asian families. ITV’s findings were presented to Feeney, Councillor Campbell, and Councillor Whelan by ITV News.
Reform Faces Scrutiny Over Donations and Security
The controversy comes as Reform faces scrutiny over potential foreign donations and security breaches. A separate undercover investigation last year surfaced allegations of foreign funding, and a police inquiry is ongoing into threats against Farage. Despite these challenges, the party remains a significant force in local politics.
The ITV documentary, Undercover: A Year in Reform, airs on October 18, offering further insights into the party’s internal dynamics.
In July 2024, Farage acknowledged a few bad apples
but promised they would be long gone,
a pledge that now faces renewed scrutiny.
Feeney’s comments about Asian homeowners and his discussion of a female Reform candidate were part of a broader pattern of behavior captured by ITV. The footage included conversations where candidates discussed how to conceal their views from voters to win power. During the Gorton and Denton by-election campaign in February 2026, ITV’s undercover reporter spoke with then-Reform councillor Alan Feeney, according to the BBC.
The documentary also highlighted the party’s security concerns, with Farage stating that Reform was being targeted by individuals who wished them harm
during the investigation.
The footage from the ITV documentary, Undercover: A Year in Reform, includes specific instances of racist and sexist language, such as a Reform councillor calling for King Charles to be decapitated.
ITV’s investigation, which spanned a year, involved reporters joining Reform candidates and councillors across England and Wales during the May local elections and four by-election campaigns. The footage was released ahead of the documentary’s air date on October 18, as reported by Reuters.
The controversy has also led to increased scrutiny of Reform’s financial practices, with police investigating potential violations of donation laws.