Warning: this report contains racist and offensive language.

Reform UK has said "there is no room for racism" in its party after ITV News broadcast undercover footage of some of its councillors and candidates using racist, violent and sexist language. The footage was gathered over a year.

In the film, Undercover: A Year in Reform, a Reform councillor and deputy mayor of Solihull, Alan Feeney, is recorded calling Asian homeowners "parasites".

Feeney, who defected from the Conservative Party in 2025, was campaigning to keep his seat on Solihull Council in the West Midlands when ITV reporters joined him undercover. He told them the area had been "infested" with Asian families. Later in the film, he is recorded saying: "I'd be saying no more than one per cent of British population can be non-white."

ITV says its reporters were undercover with Reform UK candidates and councillors across England and Wales in the run-up to the May elections and four by-election campaigns held this year and last.

Party response

A Reform spokesman said that where members, activists and councillors had clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations had begun. In some cases, people had been suspended. The party said it had improved its vetting procedures but that a small number of individuals who did not share its values would sometimes get through.

Reform says all of the people filmed by ITV are under investigation and have either resigned or been suspended. ITV has reported that Feeney had "mutually agreed" to leave Reform UK on Monday evening, citing "personal reasons", and will continue as an independent councillor. The BBC has approached Feeney for comment.

Reform leader Nigel Farage has repeatedly said he wants to remove those he has called "bad apples". Two years ago, he said he did not want Reform to be "a sectarian or racially based party in any way at all", adding: "I'm going to be absolutely ruthless about it."

Reaction from other parties

Labour described the investigation as "truly sickening" and said Farage "can't shrug these latest revelations off as being a few bad apples".

The Conservatives said: "Nigel Farage promised to make Reform ready for government. These sorry individuals are proof he has failed."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "This is chilling. I feel for anyone watching this tonight who is frightened to see such racism and hatred festering in their community."

A Green Party spokesman said: "Vilifying migrants and Muslims is Reform's main focus, and these racist comments reflect party policy."