Undercover ITV News investigation: Reform UK members used racist language, councillors resign, aspiring MP suspended
Summary
An undercover ITV News investigation found that Reform UK councillors and candidates had used racist language, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported on 15 October, one excerpt referring to black children as 'animals' and another showing a Reform member saying the member's area had become 'infested' with Asians, and Andy Burnham urged Reform UK to take 'immediate action' against racism. Footage also shows a senior Reform official telling Nigel Farage that Farage was 'protecting' Chris Parry, a mayoral candidate who had said David Lammy should 'go back home to the Caribbean', The Guardian and HuffPost UK reported, Reform accusing ITV of 'extreme methods of deception', according to HuffPost UK. On 16 October Reform councillors Jamie Campbell and Alan Feeney resigned after the sting, the Birmingham Mail and BBC News reported, Feeney having been filmed calling Asian homeowners 'parasites', according to BBC News and The Independent. On 17 October new footage showed a would-be Reform MP telling an undercover reporter that Muslims could not be British and that asylum seekers should be put in 'concentration camps', The Guardian, The Independent and the Evening Standard reported, and on 18 October the aspiring MP, Jason Powell, was suspended, The Guardian reported. On 21 October Reform said it had reported ITV to the police, Zia Yusuf announcing a legal challenge against multiple ITV journalists and the broadcaster's board, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported.
Latest: Reform said it had reported ITV to the police over the undercover investigation, Zia Yusuf announcing that Reform would also launch a legal challenge against multiple ITV journalists and the broadcaster's board, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported.
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How it unfolded
Wednesday 21 October
Reform said it had reported ITV to the police over the undercover investigation, Zia Yusuf announcing that Reform would also launch a legal challenge against multiple ITV journalists and the broadcaster's board, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported.
- 09:13The IndependentReform reports ITV and journalists to police over undercover racism sting
- 08:40The IndependentReform says it has reported ITV to the police over undercover investigation
- 08:38Evening StandardReform says it has reported ITV to the police over undercover investigation
Sunday 18 October
The aspiring Reform MP who said 'you cannot be Muslim and British', Jason Powell, has been suspended, The Guardian reported, also citing Reform councillors talking of executing grooming gang members, while HuffPost UK said the footage was due to be broadcast on Sunday and quoted Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson: 'Bad apples don't fall far from the tree'.
- 06:03The GuardianAspiring Reform MP who said ‘you cannot be Muslim and British’ suspended
- 05:41HuffPost UKReform UK MP Hopeful Said Muslims Like Zia Yusuf 'Cannot Be British'
- 05:00Birmingham MailSecret recording filmed Reform UK supporter saying 'build concentration camps'
- 04:07Manchester Evening NewsReform UK activist 'tells undercover reporter Muslims can't be British'
Saturday 17 October
Alan Feeney, a Reform councillor who sat on Solihull and Birmingham councils, resigned after being filmed making racist remarks, The Guardian and The Independent reported, and new footage showed a Reform activist and would-be MP telling an undercover ITV reporter that Muslims could not be British and that asylum seekers should be put in 'concentration camps', according to The Guardian, The Independent, the Evening Standard and Metro UK.
- 15:50The IndependentUndercover footage shows Reform activist claiming Muslims cannot be British
- 15:42Evening StandardUndercover footage shows Reform activist claiming Muslims cannot be British
- 15:18Evening StandardReform activist caught on camera saying Muslims can't be british and asylum seekers should be put in 'concentration camps'
- 15:00The GuardianReform candidate filmed saying asylum seekers should be put in ‘concentration camps’
- 15:00The IndependentReform activist caught on camera saying asylum seekers should be put in 'concentration camps'
- 15:00Metro UKReform needs to ‘build concentration camps’, aspiring MP admits to undercover journalist
- 03:54The IndependentReform councillor resigns after being filmed making racist remarks
Friday 16 October
Robert Jenrick denied Sarah Pochin's claim about a 'chauvinistic' Reform UK, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported, Jamie Campbell quit Solihull Council after the ITV racism sting, according to the Birmingham Mail, and Alan Feeney quit as a Reform councillor after being captured on undercover filming calling Asian homeowners 'parasites', according to BBC News.
- 18:30The GuardianReform councillor resigns after being filmed making racist remarks
- 11:18BBC NewsReform councillor quits over offensive remarks
- 05:59Birmingham MailSecond disgraced Solihull Reform UK councillor quits after ITV racism sting
- 03:30The IndependentRobert Jenrick denies Sarah Pochin claim about ‘chauvinistic’ Reform UK
- 03:24Evening StandardRobert Jenrick denies Sarah Pochin claim about ‘chauvinistic’ Reform UK
Thursday 15 October
An undercover ITV News investigation found Reform UK councillors and candidates using racist language, the Evening Standard and The Independent reported, Andy Burnham urging Reform to take 'immediate action' against racism, and its latest footage shows a senior Reform official telling Nigel Farage that Farage was 'protecting' a mayoral candidate accused of making racist comments about David Lammy, The Guardian and HuffPost UK reported.
- 15:27HuffPost UKReform Aide Accused Nigel Farage Of 'Protecting' Candidate Who Told David Lammy To 'Go Home'
- 15:09The GuardianFarage accused of ‘protecting’ Reform candidate over racist slurs against David Lammy
- 15:05The IndependentBurnham urges Reform to take 'immediate action' against racism after undercover sting
- 08:24Evening StandardNigel Farage in growing storm over 'racist' Reform councillors as one in London says King 'secretly Muslim'
- 08:00The Independent‘Reform UK should take immediate action against racism’, Burnham says
- 07:54Evening Standard‘Reform UK should take immediate action against racism’, Burnham says
- 07:40The IndependentThe establishment ‘want us out of the picture’, says Nigel Farage after TV probe
- 07:31Evening StandardThe establishment ‘want us out of the picture’, says Nigel Farage after TV probe