Referred to Asian people as “parasites”.
Reform UK is facing mounting pressure after an ITV undercover investigation exposed racist, Islamophobic, sexist and violent remarks by party members and councillors.
The revelations have triggered resignations, suspensions and investigations, raising questions about how the party selects candidates and handles allegations of extremism.
On October 17, activist Jason Powell was suspended after reportedly claiming Muslims cannot be British and suggesting concentration camps for migrants.
The controversy follows several days of revelations from ITV’s year-long investigation into Nigel Farage’s party.
The findings have intensified scrutiny of Reform UK’s internal culture and its candidate vetting procedures.
ITV Investigation Exposes Racist Comments
The controversy gained widespread attention on October 14, when ITV News published findings from its investigation into Reform UK.
An undercover reporter gained access to the party’s political operation, while other footage captured councillors and candidates making racist, sexist and violent remarks.
One prominent figure identified was Alan Feeney, a Reform councillor in Solihull who was filmed making derogatory comments about Asian residents.
Feeney reportedly described Asian families as having “infested” the area and referred to Asian people as “parasites”.
He also advocated deporting people of South Asian heritage.
The footage attracted particular attention because Feeney had been elected as a Reform councillor in May 2026 and appointed deputy mayor of Solihull.
Other recordings showed individuals expressing anti-Muslim views, discussing ways to oppose a mosque and making offensive comments about Black children.
The investigation also uncovered sexually inappropriate remarks about a female Reform candidate, adding allegations of misogyny to the controversy.
The revelations prompted calls for those involved to resign and placed pressure on Farage to explain how such individuals had become party representatives.
Resignations and Suspensions Follow Revelations
As the footage emerged, several Reform representatives faced consequences over their reported comments.
Feeney resigned from Reform and stepped down from his council positions. He acknowledged that his remarks were wrong and unacceptable.
Chris Whelan, another Reform councillor featured in the investigation, also left the party, citing personal and health reasons.
Other individuals faced scrutiny as further recordings were published, with Reform confirming investigations into members whose behaviour was considered inappropriate.
On October 17, Jason Powell was suspended from party membership.
Powell had applied to become a Reform parliamentary candidate and was reportedly filmed discussing his views on Islam and immigration with an undercover reporter.
He allegedly claimed Muslims could not be British, comparing the two identities to “oil and water”.
Powell also reportedly suggested that migrants who could not be returned to their countries of origin should be held in “concentration camps”.
His suspension raised further questions about how he had passed the party’s vetting process while seeking to become a parliamentary candidate.
Reform confirmed that an internal investigation was underway, as the controversy widened beyond individual remarks to the party’s recruitment procedures.
Councillors’ Violent Remarks Add to the Controversy
Further footage published on October 17 featured Reform councillors Adam Parkins and David Kerr, who represent Hounslow in west London.
Kerr was reportedly filmed advocating machine-gunning thousands of men involved in grooming gangs.
Parkins allegedly suggested that, if he became prime minister, he would conduct executions in the Downing Street Rose Garden.
He later defended supporting the death penalty for men who systematically groomed and raped young girls, describing his position as legitimate.
The remarks raised questions about the language used by elected representatives when discussing serious crimes and appropriate punishment.
Sexual exploitation requires effective investigations, prosecutions, and justice for victims. However, advocating mass executions raises separate concerns about the rule of law.
Reform confirmed investigations into inappropriate conduct by members.
However, reporting on October 18 indicated that Parkins and Kerr were not themselves under investigation at that point.
Their reported remarks have added to pressure on the party, with scrutiny extending to the standards expected of elected representatives.
ITV Investigation Puts Farage’s Leadership Under Scrutiny
The revelations have placed renewed pressure on Reform leader Nigel Farage, who has promised to improve candidate vetting and remove extremists from the party.
Farage has argued that political parties cannot predict everything their members might say and has maintained that Reform was taking action against those whose behaviour was unacceptable.
However, ITV’s investigation also examined how party officials responded internally to allegations of racism.
Footage published on October 15 reportedly showed senior Reform figures discussing allegations against candidates and whether they should be removed from the party.
The findings raised questions about whether concerns were consistently acted upon and whether political considerations influenced disciplinary decisions.
Reform has said it has improved its vetting procedures and opened investigations where members have clearly behaved inappropriately.
Nevertheless, the continuing revelations have raised questions about whether those measures are sufficient to prevent further controversies.
Reform UK Faces Questions Over Candidate Vetting
The central issue emerging from ITV’s investigation is whether Reform UK’s vetting procedures adequately identify candidates whose views conflict with the party’s stated standards.
The footage featured elected councillors as well as activists seeking parliamentary candidacies, raising questions about how their backgrounds and conduct were assessed.
The investigation also examined allegations that candidates were advised to remove social media accounts before applying, potentially making controversial material harder to identify.
Reform has defended its procedures while acknowledging that improvements are necessary. Its response has included suspensions and investigations.
For British Asian communities, the reported comments about Asian residents and Muslims have particular significance because they concern how minority groups are discussed by political figures.
The investigation has consequently developed into a broader debate about political accountability and party leadership.
With investigations ongoing, Reform UK faces pressure to show that its disciplinary procedures are effective and its candidates are held to consistent standards.
Whether the party can restore public confidence will depend on how it handles the allegations and addresses concerns about its candidate selection process.
Watch The ITV Investigation:
