Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party, has faced criticism following an undercover investigation that exposed members of his party making racist and sexist remarks. The revelations have sparked calls for resignations and raised questions about the party’s candidate vetting processes.
The investigation, carried out by ITV, captured conversations within Reform’s Westminster headquarters, focusing in part on Dr. Chris Parry, the party’s mayoral candidate for Hampshire & the Solent. Parry was recorded making a social media post stating that Labour politician David Lammy "must go home to the Caribbean where [his] loyalty lies." Reform’s director of communications, Ed Sumner, described Parry as “clearly a racist” and said he would have removed him from the party months earlier. However, Farage was seen urging the press office to manage the situation by simply apologizing to Lammy, stating, “Just take the f***ing deal,” and pointing to Parry’s status as a former Royal Navy Rear Admiral as complicating factors.
Following the controversy, Parry apologized to Lammy but remained a candidate at the time. He was subsequently suspended "pending investigation" over separate comments involving a Jewish neighbourhood watch group, though Parry has denied that any formal investigation took place. Reform has not disclosed the outcome.
Other party members were implicated in the undercover footage. Alan Feeney, a Reform councillor and deputy mayor of Solihull, was recorded referring to Asian homeowners as “absolute parasites” during canvassing efforts. Following the footage’s release, Feeney was suspended from his role as a custodial manager at HMP Birmingham. The Ministry of Justice condemned the comments as “despicable” and announced an investigation. Feeney has stepped down from Reform but continues to serve as an independent councillor.
Another individual, Chris Whelan, resigned from Reform after footage showed him stating he would have sexually assaulted a female candidate “if she’d have given me a hug.” The documentary involved at least eight Reform members, with three councillors resigning in the wake of the footage.
The revelations prompted responses from political figures including Andy Burnham, who called for “immediate and firm action” from Reform regarding the members involved. The Conservative Party criticized Farage’s leadership, suggesting the party had failed to prepare properly for government.
Farage defended Reform’s candidate vetting procedures, contending that the party’s standards surpass those of other political groups. He acknowledged the difficulty in predicting candidates’ future behavior, especially in informal or pressured situations. A Reform spokesperson said the ITV investigation used “extreme methods of deception” and emphasized that there is no tolerance for racism within the party, stressing that due process must be respected while investigations continue.