Full Breakdown
Reform UK Undercover Investigation Reveals Racist and Sexist Comments
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
ITV’s undercover documentary *Undercover: A Year in Reform* aired footage captured over twelve months of Reform UK councillors and candidates making racist, sexist and extremist remarks. Other excerpts feature Jamie Campbell joking about “burying” a mosque, Chris Whelan making lewd comments about a female candidate, and Dean Miller calling Black children “animals” and suggesting violent actions against Muslims. The programme was broadcast on Sunday night, prompting immediate resignations and suspensions within the party.
Background & Context
Reform UK has long positioned itself as a “clean-up” party, with leader Nigel Farage promising to root out “bad apples” after previous controversies. In 2024 the party pledged to improve vetting procedures, yet the ITV investigation shows individuals slipping through those safeguards.
Data & Statistics
- Reform UK claims more than 2,000 councillors and 280,000 members.
- The undercover team recorded eight Reform figures making extremist comments; several have since resigned or been suspended.
- Alan Feeney, a custodial manager at HMP Birmingham, was suspended from his prison-service role after the footage was released.
Official Statements & Responses
He also said the party had acted to “suspend or remove” the individuals filmed.
Nigel Farage, when asked about the footage, said the party was “showing a bit of sorrow” and reiterated his commitment to “be absolutely ruthless” about removing extremist members.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Reform UK asserts that all individuals featured are under investigation, with some having resigned and others suspended. However, the party has not disclosed the exact number of resignations versus suspensions, and independent outlets have reported both outcomes for the same figures (e.g., Alan Feeney’s resignation and Chris Whelan’s suspension). The extent to which the party’s vetting failures are systemic versus isolated remains unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Nigel Farage promised to make Reform ready for government. These sorry individuals are proof he has failed.” — The Conservatives
- “Nigel Farage can’t shrug these latest revelations off as being a few bad apples.” — The Conservatives
- “There is no place for any form of racism, antisemitism, discrimination in British politics, and we all should be relentless in repeating that and taking the firmest possible action.” — The Conservatives
- “This is chilling. I feel for anyone watching this tonight who is frightened to see such racism and hatred festering in their community.” — Sir Ed Davey
- “ Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said: "These latest shocking and deeply disturbing revelations go right to the top of Reform UK.” — Bridget Phillipson, labour party chairwoman
- “It's showing a bit of sorrow.” — Nigel Farage
What’s Next
The documentary will be rebroadcast on Sunday 18 October at 10:20 pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player, providing further public scrutiny of Reform UK’s internal culture.