The key facts
- Reform UK suspended activist Jason Powell and is investigating two councillors from Hounslow after ITV News undercover filming
- According to ITV, Powell said that 'you cannot be a Muslim and a Briton', while councillors David Kerr and Adam Parkinson made remarks about violence
- Reform stated that there is 'no place for racism' in the party and began legal proceedings against ITV and the production company
Suspension and investigations
The Reform UK party has suspended the membership of activist Jason Powell, who, according to ITV News undercover footage, said that 'you cannot be a Muslim and a Briton — it's like oil and water'. Powell, who had applied to become a parliamentary candidate for the party, also, according to the footage, believes that migrants who arrived illegally should be kept in 'concentration camps' if they cannot be returned to their country of origin. Reform said Powell has been suspended from membership pending an internal investigation.
Councillors' remarks
The party is also investigating two councillors representing it in the London borough of Hounslow. According to the footage, councillor David Kerr advocated shooting thousands of members of child sexual exploitation gangs (grooming gangs) with machine guns. His colleague Adam Parkinson suggested that, if he were prime minister, he would carry out executions on Sunday mornings in the rose garden at Downing Street. The BBC contacted both councillors for comment.
Context and party response
The material is contained in the ITV documentary 'Undercover: A Year in Reform', which will air on Sunday. On Wednesday evening, ITV News had already shown undercover footage in which Reform councillors and candidates used racist, violent and sexist remarks. In a statement to ITV, Reform said that there is 'no place for racism' in the party and that investigations have been opened in cases where activists or members 'clearly behaved inappropriately'. The party also said it has improved its candidate vetting procedures, but following the publications it faces questions about the quality of vetting.
Legal action and comments
A party spokesperson told the BBC that Reform is pursuing legal action against ITV and the film's production company, which used undercover filming to obtain the material. Reform MP Robert Jenrick said on the BBC's Today programme that there are 'bad apples' in all parties: he 'did not like what I heard in the documentary', but, according to him, the party acted quickly by suspending or removing those featured in the footage.
Image source, Getty Images
