A year-long undercover investigation by ITV News has triggered a major political controversy in the United Kingdom after footage allegedly captured several Reform UK councilors and candidates making racist, misogynistic and violent remarks. The revelations have led to resignations, suspensions and renewed questions about the party’s candidate selection procedures, internal culture and commitment to tackling discrimination.
The documentary, titled Undercover: A Year in Reform, examines the behavior of eight individuals connected to Reform UK across England and Wales. According to ITV News, reporters spent a year gathering footage during the run-up to local elections and several by-election campaigns in 2025 and 2026.
The recordings include offensive comments about Asian communities, Black children, Muslims, migrants and women. Some individuals have since left the party, while others have faced investigations or disciplinary action. Reform UK has condemned inappropriate behavior and defended its vetting procedures, while also criticizing the methods used by ITV’s undercover reporters.
The investigation has now placed the party under intense scrutiny, raising wider questions about racism, political accountability and the standards expected of people holding public office.
What Did the ITV Undercover Investigation Reveal?
The ITV investigation focused on Reform UK councilors, prospective candidates and party figures involved in political campaigning. By recording conversations over an extended period, the journalists sought to examine what some individuals said privately while participating in party activities.
The documentary revealed remarks that appeared to go far beyond ordinary political disagreement. Several individuals allegedly expressed hostility towards ethnic minorities and Muslims, while others made disturbing comments about women or discussed extreme responses to immigration.
The footage also raised questions about how effectively Reform UK identifies unsuitable candidates before allowing them to represent the party.
Following the broadcast, Reform UK confirmed that the individuals featured in the investigation were being examined internally. The party said some people had been suspended and others had left its ranks.
However, the controversy extends beyond the comments themselves. It also concerns whether party officials were sufficiently thorough when assessing candidates and whether concerns about extremist views were handled consistently.
Alan Feeney: Solihull Councillor’s Comments Spark Outrage
One of the most controversial figures featured in the investigation was Alan Feeney, a Reform UK councilor and former deputy mayor of Solihull.
According to ITV News, Feeney was recorded describing Asian homeowners as parasites and saying that his area had been infested with Asian families. The investigation also captured him expressing the view that no more than one per cent of Britain’s population should be non-white.
In another disturbing section of the footage, Feeney reportedly described an extreme approach to removing people from the country, including forcibly taking individuals from their homes and sending them to Pakistan.
He also made comments about Muslims working in public institutions, including the judiciary, schools and healthcare. His remarks suggested that he viewed Muslim communities as being opposed to British interests.
These comments prompted strong criticism because councilors are elected to represent their local communities, which may include residents from many ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Public officials are expected to treat constituents fairly, regardless of their background. Remarks that appear to target entire communities can therefore undermine confidence in the ability of an elected representative to serve everyone impartially.
Following the broadcast, Feeney mutually agreed to leave Reform UK, citing personal reasons. He subsequently resigned from his deputy mayoral position but remained a councilor representing Castle Bromwich as an independent.
He was also suspended from his employment as a custodial manager at HMP Birmingham. The Ministry of Justice described the reported comments as despicable and said they were incompatible with the standards expected of prison staff.
Solihull Borough Council also confirmed that it would investigate complaints relating to Feeney and another councillor. The council stated that racist, discriminatory and misogynistic language had no place in public life.
The developments illustrate how remarks made by elected politicians can have consequences extending beyond party membership, particularly when questions arise about professional conduct and public trust.
Chris Whelan Resigns After Misogynistic Comments
The investigation also exposed alleged misogynistic comments by Chris Whelan, another Reform UK figure in Solihull.
According to the footage described by ITV News, Whelan made sexually explicit remarks about a female Reform UK candidate. His comments included references to the woman in a manner widely considered degrading and inappropriate.
The revelations raised concerns about the treatment of women in political environments and whether female candidates can expect to participate in party activities without being subjected to sexualized remarks.
Political parties have a responsibility to create an environment in which candidates and members are treated with dignity. Sexist comments can discourage women from participating in public life and damage confidence in the organizations responsible for selecting and supporting them.
Whelan resigned from Reform UK on 12 October, citing personal and health grounds. He also resigned from Solihull Council.
A Reform UK spokesperson in Solihull said the party strongly condemned the offensive and misogynistic remarks attributed to Whelan and Feeney. The spokesperson confirmed that both were no longer Reform UK councilors.
Their departures added to the growing political pressure on the party following the documentary’s release.
Dean Miller’s Comments About the King, Migrants and Black Children
Another individual featured in the investigation was Dean Miller, a Reform UK councilor in Bromley, south London.
ITV News reported that Miller was recorded during campaigning connected to the Maker field by-election. In the footage, he claimed that King Charles was secretly Muslim and made a comment suggesting that the monarch should be beheaded.
Miller also reportedly described migrants crossing the English Channel as people who had come to rape, pillage and kill. In another recorded comment, he referred to Black children accused of vandalizing shops as animals.
Such language has attracted attention because of its violent and dehumanizing nature. Describing groups of people in these terms can reinforce hostility and make it harder to have constructive discussions about immigration, crime and community safety.
These subjects are legitimate areas of political debate. However, criticism of government policies or individual criminal behavior is different from language that portrays entire groups as dangerous or less than human.
Miller responded to the controversy by saying that he was disabled and had been heavily medicated because of a chronic pain condition at the time of the recordings.
He resigned from Reform UK and argued that the situation reflected a serious failure of duty of care and safeguarding by party leadership at both local and national levels. He also said that remarks made during a period of severe cognitive impairment did not represent his character, beliefs or years of humanitarian and public health service.
His explanation forms part of his response to the investigation, while the broader controversy has continued to fuel debate about the conduct expected from elected representatives.
Raymond Dunning’s Remarks Raise Further Concerns
Raymond Dunning, a Reform UK councilor in Tame side, was another person whose comments featured in the documentary.
According to ITV News, Dunning said he would deport everyone in the country who did not deserve to be there, including their children. He also described himself as being extremely far-right.
The footage reportedly included a further comment about training men aged between 18 and 30 in army insurgency tactics so they could move from street to street and house to house.
These remarks prompted further questions about political extremism and the boundaries between hard-line political rhetoric and language that appears to encourage militarized action.
Dunning did not respond to ITV News’ request for comment and remained a member of Reform UK at the time described in the report.
His position differed from that of several other people featured in the documentary, who resigned or were suspended following the broadcast.
Reform UK’s Candidate Vetting Process Under Scrutiny
One of the most significant aspects of the ITV investigation concerns how Reform UK selects and checks potential candidates.
Candidate vetting is intended to help political parties identify individuals whose conduct, public statements or background may make them unsuitable for elected office. This process is particularly important when candidates will represent a party in local government or other public positions.
Reform UK said it had improved and prioritized its vetting procedures. A party spokesperson acknowledged that individuals who did not share the organization’s values could occasionally pass through the process initially.
However, additional footage raised questions about how social media activity and expressions of support for far-right figures were assessed.
In one instance, an undercover reporter was reportedly advised by Ian Frost, chairman of a local Reform branch in Chester, to delete social media posts supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Frost later encouraged the reporter to consider standing as a councilor.
Frost described his meeting with the reporter as the first stage of the vetting process. He subsequently told ITV that he believed the person was a genuine candidate and that he had given him the benefit of the doubt. Frost also said he had since left Reform UK for unrelated reasons.
The documentary also included claims from former Reform candidate Alex Lomas, who said he had failed the party’s vetting process twice, partly because of social media posts involving Robinson, but had nevertheless been allowed to stand.
Reform UK disputed Lomas’s account, denying that he had failed its vetting process in the first place.
These competing accounts have intensified the debate over whether the party’s screening procedures are sufficiently rigorous, consistently applied and capable of identifying warning signs before candidates are selected.
Internal Disagreements Over Chris Parry
The investigation also revealed discussions within Reform UK about Dr Chris Parry, a mayoral candidate whose social media posts had previously attracted criticism.
Parry had posted comments about David Lammy, then the Deputy Prime Minister, suggesting that he should return to the Caribbean. He had also questioned the loyalty of prominent Black and Muslim politicians.
According to the documentary, Reform UK’s director of communications, Ed Sumner, described Parry as racist and said he needed to leave the party.
However, party leader Nigel Farage reportedly decided that Parry should apologies rather than immediately withdraw as a candidate.
The footage suggested there were disagreements within the party about how to respond to the controversy. Parry was permitted to remain the party’s mayoral candidate in Hampshire and the Solent before he was suspended in March, according to the report.
The episode raised questions about how disciplinary decisions are made and whether the same standards are applied consistently to different individuals.
For political parties, handling such cases involves balancing due process with the need to respond decisively to serious allegations. The way those decisions are made can influence public perceptions of leadership, accountability and organizational values.
Nigel Farage Defends Reform UK’s Vetting Procedures
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage defended the party’s candidate selection process following the broadcast.
Speaking in Chelmsford, Farage argued that political parties could not vet candidates for comments they might make in the future. He also maintained that Reform UK applied a higher standard of vetting than other parties.
Farage suggested that the investigation reflected opposition from what he described as the establishment, which he believed wanted to prevent Reform UK from gaining political influence.
He also pointed out that the individual he considered the worst in the documentary had previously served as a Conservative councilor before joining Reform UK.
The party separately accused ITV of using extreme methods of deception, alleging that reporters used altered identification documents, a false address and false credentials to gain access to its headquarters and computer systems.
These accusations form an important part of the dispute surrounding the documentary. ITV’s investigation has prompted scrutiny of Reform UK, while the party has challenged the methods used to obtain the footage.
Nevertheless, the resignations, suspensions and questions about candidate selection have placed the party’s internal procedures under considerable pressure.
Political Leaders Condemn the Revelations
The documentary prompted criticism from politicians across the political spectrum, demonstrating the wider significance of the allegations.
Labour figures described the reported comments as deeply disturbing and called for firm action against those responsible. Bridget Phillipson said the revelations could not simply be dismissed as the actions of a few individuals.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey also criticized the footage, describing it as chilling and expressing concern about the effect such language could have on people who fear racism and hatred in their communities.
Conservative MP Saqib Bhatti said the comments raised serious questions about Reform UK’s culture. Labour MP Liam Byrne similarly argued that racist and extremist views had no place in public life.
A Green Party spokesperson criticized the treatment of migrants and Muslims, while anti-racism campaigners called for stronger accountability.
The criticism reflects a broader political debate about the responsibilities of political parties. While parties may disagree sharply over immigration, economic policy and national identity, the controversy has renewed calls for clear standards on discrimination and conduct.
What Does the Investigation Mean for Reform UK?
The immediate consequences include several resignations, suspensions and investigations. However, the longer-term impact may depend on how Reform UK responds to the concerns raised by the documentary.
The party has stated that it does not tolerate racism and that inappropriate behavior is being investigated. It has also defended its screening procedures and said that due process must be followed.
The challenge is to demonstrate that these commitments are reflected in practice. This may involve reviewing candidate selection rules, examining complaints more consistently, improving the monitoring of public statements and making disciplinary decisions transparent where appropriate.
The controversy also highlights the importance of accountability in local government. Councilors influence decisions affecting housing, public services, planning, community safety and local spending. Residents need confidence that elected representatives will perform those responsibilities fairly.
At the same time, individuals facing allegations should have the opportunity to respond, and disciplinary decisions should be based on the evidence and the procedures available to the relevant organizations.
For voters, the central issue is not simply whether individual politicians remain in office. It is whether political parties can maintain credible standards of conduct while ensuring that candidates represent the communities they seek to serve.
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Conclusion: A Major Test of Political Accountability
ITV News’ year-long undercover investigation has become a significant test of Reform UK’s leadership, candidate vetting procedures and approach to alleged racism and misogyny.
The footage described in Undercover: A Year in Reform has led to the departure of several party figures, disciplinary action and criticism from politicians and anti-racism campaigners. The allegations involve offensive remarks about ethnic minorities, Muslims, migrants, women and public institutions.
Reform UK has condemned inappropriate behavior while defending its vetting procedures and criticizing ITV’s undercover methods. Nigel Farage has argued that no screening process can predict every future comment made by a candidate.
The wider questions, however, remain important: how effectively can political parties identify unsuitable candidates, how consistently do they respond to serious concerns, and what standards should the public expect from elected representatives?
Ultimately, public confidence depends on more than political promises. It requires responsible conduct, transparent decision-making and meaningful accountability when serious concerns arise. The response to this investigation will therefore be closely watched by voters, political opponents and those concerned about discrimination in British public life.
