The Aporia · Reform faces criticism after councillors filmed making racist comments

ITV News released undercover footage of several Reform UK councillors and candidates using racist language over a year, criticizing the party’s leadership. The film shows a councillor calling Asian residents “parasites” and limiting non-white population to one percent. Reform acknowledged inappropriate behavior but defended its vetting process, stating that some individuals who do not align with their values occasionally slip through. Opposition parties and Labour condemned the revelations as evidence of systemic issues within Reform UK.

Written by AI on 2026-10-15, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Reform UK has faced significant backlash after secretly recorded footage revealed its councillors and candidates making racist, sexist, and discriminatory remarks. The ITV investigation, conducted over a year, documented instances where Reform officials advised potential candidates to delete far-right content from their social media before encouraging them to stand. Despite these findings, Reform maintains that there is "no room for racism" in the party and emphasizes ongoing investigations while denying systematic issues.

Alan Feeney, a prominent Reform councillor who made derogatory comments about Asian communities during a local election campaign, has resigned from his positions in Solihull and Birmingham following public outcry. Feeney apologized, stating that his remarks were "wrong, offensive, and completely unacceptable."

Prime Minister Kemi Badenoch urged Reform to take immediate action against those involved in the abhorrent comments, reinforcing the message that there is no place for racism or discrimination in British politics. Meanwhile, party leader Nigel Farage defended Reform by suggesting that the investigation was politically motivated.

Critics argue that while Reform acknowledges individual instances of misconduct, it fails to address systemic issues within the organization. The lack of public defense from Reform MPs following the exposé has further fueled skepticism about the party's commitment to addressing these concerns comprehensively.

Written for “Reform UK Racism Scandal” on 2026-10-30, grounded in this article and the 11 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Reform UK Racism Scandal

Politics · 12 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

This article reads unscored and hedges 4% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Reform councillors quit after being caught on camera making violent, racist and sexist remarks Same event

Daily Mail

Hedges 4 of 14 claims Outlet record 68/100

Undercover documentary shows Reform UK candidates making racist, sexual and violent remarks Same event

The Straits Times

⚖️ Leans strongly left Hedges 0 of 17 claims Outlet record 66/100

Nigel Farage in growing storm over 'racist' Reform councillors as one in London says King 'secretly Muslim' Same event

Evening Standard

⚖️ Leans right Hedges 6 of 22 claims Outlet record 65/100

Reform councillor resigns after being filmed making racist remarks Same event

The Guardian

⚖️ Leans left Hedges 2 of 20 claims Outlet record 66/100

ITV’s exposé of racism and misogyny in Reform? Just a few (more) bad apples | John Crace Same event

The Guardian

⚖️ Leans strongly left Hedges 8 of 49 claims Outlet record 66/100

Reform UK councillors and candidates filmed making racist and extreme comments Same event

The Guardian

⚖️ Leans left Hedges 2 of 27 claims Outlet record 66/100

‘Reform UK should take immediate action against racism’, Burnham says Same event

Evening Standard

Hedges 2 of 19 claims Outlet record 65/100

‘Reform UK should take immediate action against racism’, Burnham says Same event

Evening Standard

Hedges 3 of 24 claims Outlet record 65/100

Farage is hit by fresh questions over candidate vetting after politicians demanded King's execution and made sickening racist and sexist jokes Same event

Daily Mail

Hedges 0 of 19 claims Outlet record 68/100

Nigel Farage crony makes 'Nigerian scammer' jibe at Kemi, just days after Reform's racist councillors were caught on camera... more bile from leader's key ally Different event

Daily Mail

Hedges 2 of 37 claims Outlet record 68/100

“The articles describe different incidents involving racism but at separate times, with Article A focusing on councillors filmed over a year making racist comments and Article B about an ally of Nigel Farage making offensive remarks against Kemi Badenoch.”

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Kate Whannel

16 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 The row was triggered when Farage, explaining why he had not attended Wednesday's Budget, said he had been involved in a "physical altercation" with another MP at the State Opening of Parliament in May and had wanted to avoid a similar incident.

2026-10-29 · assertive framing · Lib Dems and Reform UK in war of words over alleged shove

🔮 The plan boosted defence spending; however the chancellor continues to come under pressure to explain how he will meet a further target of spending 3% of national income on defence by 2030.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · Healey tells departments to make 1% cuts to fund defence

🔮 She was responding to a discussion on Sky News about the author Sally Rooney, whose novels will not be supplied to booksellers in the UK following her announcement that she intends to use her royalties to support Palestine Action.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Police assess Palestine Action post by national security adviser's wife

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

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Reform faces criticism after councillors filmed making racist comments

🔮 - Published "We are behind you and that will not change," Andy Burnham has told Volodymyr Zelensky, as he hosted the Ukrainian leader in Downing Street.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · We are behind you and that will not change, PM tells Zelensky

🔮 - Published Andy Burnham has said he will not support his party forming a partnership with the Green Party as long as it maintains a policy of defining Zionism as a form of racism.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Burnham rules out coalition with Greens after 'Zionism is racism' motion

🔮 "There is no reason to assume Britain would be an exception," he added.

2026-10-11 · assertive framing · PM says it is 'clear' Russia interfered with Brexit vote

🔮 A Green spokeswoman insisted the party would protect Jewish members - and they would not be persecuted for attending synagogues which defined themselves as Zionist.

2026-10-04 · assertive framing · Green Party members back 'Zionism is racism' motion

🔮 - Published Young people would be offered a guaranteed two-year job within four months of leaving education or training, under a new proposal unveiled by the Green Party.

2026-10-03 · assertive framing · Greens would offer two-year jobs to unemployed under-24s

🔮 "If the destination means prosperity, it means freedom for people to do new things, and it means security for people and families, then why wouldn't we put our foot down and get there quicker," the former business secretary said.

2026-09-26 · assertive framing · Burnham not doing enough to boost growth, says Starmer ally

Also by Kate Whannel

Lib Dems and Reform UK in war of words over alleged shove

2026-10-29 · BBC News

Healey tells departments to make 1% cuts to fund defence

2026-10-28 · BBC News

Police assess Palestine Action post by national security adviser's wife

2026-10-16 · BBC News

We are behind you and that will not change, PM tells Zelensky

2026-10-14 · BBC News

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 16 articles by Kate Whannel →

Chris Mason

21 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 - Published This was a Budget I would describe as a flotilla of small measures.

2026-10-28 · mixed framing · Chris Mason: Budget felt cautious despite its range of small measures

🔮 Let's be clear, plenty in Westminster in all parties will say that the amount of money around isn't everything – how well taxpayers' money is spent and where it is spent matters too.

2026-10-27 · assertive framing · Chris Mason: Budget needs to go some way towards delivering PM's promises

🔮 In fact it felt near inevitable after President Trump blurted out – after his first phone call with Burnham in the summer – that the prime minister had told him he would "open up the North Sea".

2026-10-21 · assertive framing · Chris Mason: Jackdaw approved but tricky energy trade-offs remain

🔮 The SNP is buoyant, its activists gathering for the first time since it won, in May, a fifth consecutive Scottish Parliament election, albeit with fewer seats than they won in 2021.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Chris Mason: Burnham and Swinney tussle over where power lies in Scotland

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

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Reform faces criticism after councillors filmed making racist comments

🔮 Neither Charlie Maynard, a former Treasury spokesman and Alison Bennett, a former care and carers spokeswoman, have been publicly explicit about the reasons for their departures and both sought to express their concerns to Sir Ed privately and discreetly.

2026-10-14 · assertive framing · Chris Mason: Lib Dems rally behind Davey as he pledges change

🔮 And that, you will remember, was merely the start, as years of wrangling began.

2026-10-13 · assertive framing · Why the prime minister wants to talk about Brexit again

🔮 - Published The prime minister is expected to tell the Commons later it would be a "dereliction of duty" to turn down a closer relationship with the European Union - if one can be negotiated with Brussels.

2026-10-12 · assertive framing · Rejecting closer EU ties would be dereliction of duty, PM to say

🔮 She arrived in the UK as a child refugee from Somalia in the 1990s, grew up locally in Camden, became a councillor four years ago, the council leader in May and is now Sir Keir Starmer's successor as the MP.

2026-10-09 · assertive framing · Polanski faces greatest crisis of his leadership so far

🔮 Reform UK, for instance, claim it is a "tax cut for multi-millionaires" and that their plan to cut income tax for millions by raising the threshold at which most people start paying it will benefit far more people.

2026-10-07 · assertive framing · Chris Mason: Tories united behind Badenoch - but party still needs to win over voters

Also by Chris Mason

Chris Mason: Budget felt cautious despite its range of small measures

2026-10-28 · BBC News

Chris Mason: Budget needs to go some way towards delivering PM's promises

2026-10-27 · BBC News

Chris Mason: Jackdaw approved but tricky energy trade-offs remain

2026-10-21 · BBC News

Chris Mason: Burnham and Swinney tussle over where power lies in Scotland

2026-10-16 · BBC News

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 21 articles by Chris Mason →

In a statement released after ITV's film was broadcast, Reform said the party "had improved and prioritised its vetting procedures, but from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting".

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-15

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

2026-10-15 · BBC News

Reform faces criticism after councillors filmed making racist comments · assertive framing

- Published Warning: This report contains racist and offensive language. asserted

report → publish → language

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

News → say → language

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

councillor → record → homeowners

Labour described the investigation as "truly sickening" adding: "Nigel Farage can't shrug these latest revelations off as being a few bad apples." asserted

Farage → describe → revelations

A Reform spokesman said: "Where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced" and that in some cases there had been suspensions. asserted

investigations → say → cases

The spokesman added that the party had improved its procedures but some individuals who did not share their values would occasionally make it through vetting. asserted

who → add → vetting

ITV's filming involved eight figures in Reform – the BBC does not know how many it spoke to in total. asserted

it → involve → total

Reform says the people filmed by ITV are all under investigation, and have already either resigned or been suspended. asserted

people → say → investigation

ITV News says it had reporters undercover with Reform UK candidates and councillors across England and Wales running up to the elections in May and four by-election campaigns this year and last. uncertain

reporters → say → May

These reporters joined a Reform councillor, Alan Feeney, in Solihull, in the West Midlands, where he was campaigning to retain his seat on the council, having defected from the Conservative Party in 2025. asserted

he → join → 2025

He told undercover reporters the area has been "infested" with Asian families, and called them "absolute parasites". asserted

area → tell → them

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." asserted

cent → record → population

The BBC has tried to contact Feeney for a response. asserted

BBC → try → response

ITV has reported that on Monday evening he had "mutually agreed" to resign from Reform UK, citing "personal reasons," and would be continuing as an independent councillor. asserted

he → report → councillor

Reform Party leader Nigel Farage has repeatedly said he wants to get rid of those he has called "bad apples." asserted

he → say → those

Two years ago he said he didn't want Reform to be "a sectarian or racially based party in any way at all". asserted

Reform → say → way

"I'm going to be absolutely ruthless about it," he said. asserted

he → go → it

who → release → vetting

The Conservatives said: "Nigel Farage promised to make Reform ready for government. asserted

Reform → say → government

These sorry individuals are proof he has failed." asserted

he → fail → ?

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "This is chilling. asserted

This → say → ?

I feel for anyone watching this tonight who is frightened to see such racism and hatred festering in their community." asserted

racism → feel → community

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

comments → say → policy

Reform faces criticism after councillors filmed making racist comments

Quick Summary

AI analysis

Story

Compared with similar articles

Signals How these are calculated →

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Publisher

Who wrote this

Topics

Subjects

Narrative

Claims (23 extracted, 1 hedged)