The key facts
- ITV secretly filmed inside Reform UK for a year; racist and sexist remarks were recorded from at least eight party figures
- Among those recorded was Solihull deputy mayor Alan Finney, who called Asian residents 'parasites'; he and several others have left the party
- Reform says investigations and suspensions are under way; Labour and the Conservatives accuse Farage of failing to vet candidates
ITV hidden camera footage sparks scandal around Reform UK
Reform UK has found itself at the centre of a new scandal following the release of ITV News' investigation 'Undercover: A Year in Reform', based on hidden camera filming carried out over more than a year. Undercover journalists accompanied the party's candidates and councillors in England and Wales during the May local elections and four by-elections in 2025 and 2026. The recordings, according to BBC and Euronews, contained racist, aggressive and sexist remarks. According to ITV, the investigation covered eight figures in the party; the BBC notes that it is unknown how many people in total the reporters interacted with. The full 90-minute film, according to Euronews, is due to air on Sunday.
What the journalists recorded
Solihull councillor (West Midlands) and deputy mayor Alan Finney, who defected to Reform from the Conservatives in 2025, described the area as 'infested' with Asian families and called them 'absolute parasites', and also said that 'no more than 1% of Britain's population can be non-white'. In another scene involving candidates Jamie Campbell and Chris Wilkins, the possible construction of a mosque was discussed: Campbell suggested 'buying pork chops and burying them in the ground', Wilkins added that 'we'll take photographs', and Finney joked about a 'pig cemetery'. Discussing a female candidate from Birmingham, participants made sexist remarks. Bromley borough councillor in south London Dean Miller, who ran in the Makerfield by-election, said the area had undergone 'ethnic cleansing' due to the growth of the Nigerian community, and also spoke about King Charles, suggesting he is a Muslim and calling this a betrayal. According to Euronews, in one clip Black children were referred to as 'animals'.
Reform UK's response
The party stated that 'there is no place for racism in Reform UK' and said that 'where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have been launched', with suspensions following in a number of cases. Reform added that it has improved and prioritised its vetting procedures, but 'from time to time individuals who share our values initially pass vetting'. According to the BBC, all the people filmed by ITV are under investigation and have already either resigned or been suspended. ITV reported that Finney left the party 'by mutual agreement', citing 'personal reasons', and will continue working as an independent councillor; Wilkins, according to ITV, will also become an independent. Miller, according to ITV, has left the party and will be an independent councillor, and in a statement attributed his words to strong medication for a chronic pain condition. The BBC attempted to contact Finney, Miller, Wilkins and Campbell for comment.
Politicians' reactions
Reform leader Nigel Farage has previously repeatedly promised to 'ruthlessly' purge 'rotten apples' from the party and said he does not want Reform to be 'a sectarian or racial party'. Labour called the investigation 'truly disgusting': party chair Bridget Phillipson described the remarks as 'extreme racism' and said Farage cannot dismiss the revelations as 'a few rotten apples'. The Conservatives said Farage had promised to prepare the party to govern the country, and these people are proof of his failure. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called what is happening 'frightening'. The Greens said that 'demonising migrants and Muslims is Reform's central focus, and these racist remarks reflect the party's policies'.
Context: a series of scandals around the party
The scandal followed a previous Channel 4 News investigation into an alleged breach of funding rules, as a result of which, according to Euronews, Farage's longtime aide Dan Jukes and the party's head of policy James Orr left last month; according to those reports, the party was referred to the police. Farage has also been under intense scrutiny for months over the party's finances and a separate personal gift of £5 million (about €5.9 million) from Thailand-based British businessman Christopher Harborne. According to Euronews, Reform led in the polls last year, but in the latest YouGov poll this week the party dropped to third place — behind the governing Labour Party and the Conservatives.
