Undercover ITV investigation exposes racist and extremist remarks by Reform UK councillors

An undercover investigation by ITV News has triggered a political controversy in the United Kingdom after secretly recorded footage showed several Reform UK councillors and election candidates making racist, Islamophobic, sexist and violent remarks.

The investigation, conducted over a year by ITV Exposure, followed party campaigners across England and Wales during local elections and parliamentary by-election campaigns in 2025 and 2026. The recordings captured individuals expressing hostility towards Asian communities, Muslims and Black people, alongside comments about women and proposals for extreme action against migrants. 

Among those filmed was Alan Feeney, a Reform councillor in Solihull, who made derogatory comments about Asian residents and suggested forcibly deporting people to Pakistan. Another councillor, Dean Miller of Bromley, made racist remarks about Black children and called for King Charles III to be beheaded, based on a false claim that the monarch was Muslim. Miller later said he had been heavily medicated for a chronic pain condition and resigned from Reform UK.

The investigation also recorded sexist and sexually aggressive comments by party figures, as well as discussions about concealing controversial political views to broaden electoral appeal. The revelations have raised questions about the party’s candidate selection and vetting procedures.

Reform UK said investigations had begun into the findings and that some individuals had been suspended, stressing that people who do not share the party’s values could sometimes pass its vetting procedures. The party has also criticised ITV’s undercover methods.

The revelations pose a challenge for Reform leader Nigel Farage, who has previously pledged to remove extremists and improve candidate vetting. The full documentary, Undercover: A Year in Reform, is scheduled to air on ITV on 18 October.

Analysis: A test of Reform UK’s credibility and political discipline

The controversy goes beyond the offensive language captured on camera. It raises a fundamental question about whether Reform UK can demonstrate that its candidate vetting system is effective, particularly as the party seeks to expand its electoral support and establish itself as a credible alternative to the established political parties.

1. Candidate vetting under scrutiny

Reform UK has built much of its political appeal around immigration control, national identity and opposition to the established political consensus. Those are legitimate subjects of democratic debate. However, the recorded remarks raise a separate issue: whether individuals expressing racist prejudice and advocating violence can obtain elected office under the party’s banner. The distinction between policy debate and discriminatory or violent rhetoric is central to the party’s response.

2. Implications for Nigel Farage

Farage now faces a test of leadership. Investigations, suspensions and resignations may help contain the immediate damage, but the longer-term question is whether the party can demonstrate consistent standards in candidate selection and disciplinary action. His previous promises to exclude extremists make the effectiveness of those measures particularly important.

3. Immigration debate and community relations

The findings could intensify concerns among British Asian, Muslim and other minority communities about political rhetoric and representation. Strong disagreement over immigration policy does not justify collective hostility towards people on the basis of their ethnicity or religion. For a party seeking support across the country, the challenge is to distinguish its policy platform from the conduct and statements of its representatives.

4. The role of investigative journalism

The ITV investigation demonstrates how undercover reporting can reveal statements and behaviour that voters might otherwise never see. Reform UK’s objections to the methods used raise questions about journalistic ethics and the balance between public interest, deception and privacy. Those questions merit examination, but they do not by themselves settle the separate issue of whether the recorded remarks were acceptable.

Editorial note: This report is based on ITV News’ published investigation and related coverage. Allegations and recorded statements are attributed to the investigation; individual responsibility and any subsequent disciplinary decisions should be reported with appropriate context.