ITV undercover filming shows Reform UK councillors making racist and sexist remarks

What the footage shows

ITV aired the first clips from Undercover: A Year in Reform on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. The year-long investigation used reporters who worked undercover with Reform UK candidates and councillors across England and Wales, covering the May local elections and four by-election campaigns held in 2025 and 2026. According to the Guardian, the clips show councillors and candidates making racist and misogynistic remarks and graphic threats of extreme violence. The full documentary is scheduled for Sunday, 18 October.

1. Oct 12, 2026Chris Whelan resigns from Reform UK on personal and health grounds
2. 12 October 2026, eveningITV reports Alan Feeney agreed to resign from Reform UK
3. Oct 14, 2026ITV airs the first clips from its undercover documentary
4. Oct 15, 2026Farage's planned Essex announcement, due Thursday morning, is postponed
5. Oct 18, 2026Full documentary scheduled for broadcast on Sunday night

The BBC said it does not know how many people ITV spoke to in total. Reform says everyone filmed by ITV is under investigation and has either resigned or been suspended.

Alan Feeney and Solihull

Alan Feeney, a Reform councillor and deputy mayor of Solihull, appears most prominently in the first clips. He was recorded calling Asian homeowners "parasites" and telling reporters that the area had been "infested" with Asian families. Feeney had defected from the Conservative Party in 2025 and was campaigning to keep his council seat when the reporters met him. In a later passage he is recorded saying:

I'd be saying no more than one per cent of British population can be non-white.

ITV reported that on Monday evening, 12 October, Feeney agreed to resign from Reform UK for personal reasons and will continue as an independent councillor. Feeney was also filmed with Jamie Campbell and Chris Whelan, who both later became councillors, discussing where a local mosque might be built. After extreme racist remarks in that discussion, Feeney is heard saying "Oh god, we're all going to end up in the papers."

Other candidates and councillors

Another clip shows a candidate discussing burying pork chops in the ground on the site of a planned mosque to stop construction. Dean Miller, a Reform councillor for Bromley, was filmed separately during campaigning for the Makerfield by-election, discussing what he would do with illegal immigrants crossing the Channel. The Guardian reports that a Bromley councillor called for King Charles to be killed, while the Independent reports that one of those filmed called for him to be beheaded, arguing it was because he "is a Muslim". Another councillor made sexual and misogynistic comments about female colleagues. Three councillors have already stood down. Chris Whelan resigned on 12 October "on personal and health grounds", while Jamie Campbell remains in post.

Reform's response and Farage

Reform says investigations have started and that in some cases there have been suspensions. The party said not all people covertly recorded by ITV are members and accused the broadcaster of "extreme methods of deception". It said it had improved and prioritised vetting, but a handful of people who do not share its values can still get through. In a statement, it said:

There is no room for racism in Reform UK.

Labour described the investigation as "truly sickening" and said Nigel Farage cannot dismiss the revelations as a few bad apples. Farage has repeatedly said he wants to remove those he calls bad apples. He has also said:

I'm going to be absolutely ruthless about it.

Farage has postponed a planned announcement that was due in Essex on Thursday morning, 15 October. The Guardian reports that further revelations are expected in the coming days, including undercover filming of senior Reform politicians and officials at the party's UK headquarters.

Political fallout

Greek and Dutch reports say Reform has lost its first place in opinion polls over recent months, following reports about unlawfully obtained donations. Over the same period, Labour's standing has risen since Andy Burnham became prime minister. The next UK general election is due in 2029.