Reform UK faces fresh crisis over undercover racism video

What's happened

Under ITV’s year-long undercover film, Reform UK councillors and candidates are shown making racist, misogynistic and violent remarks. Several have resigned or been suspended as the party says investigations are underway and vetting procedures are under review.

What's behind the headline?

Brief

• The story exposes deep-seated issues within Reform UK, challenging its vetting claims and raising questions about donor and member screening.
• The impact on voters will depend on how the party handles investigations and reform promises.
• This update underscores the tension between party branding and extremist-adjacent rhetoric among local officials.

What this means

• The narrative shifts from isolated incidents to a broader reckoning about values and governance within Reform UK.
• Expect intensified media scrutiny and potential further resignations as the ITV footage continues to roll out.

Forecast

• The party will likely strengthen vetting processes but faces ongoing reputational damage that could affect local and national support ahead of the next elections.

How we got here

The ITV investigation aired this week, spotlighting Reform UK figures including Alan Feeney and others, with Farage promising vetting reforms. Other outlets have corroborated concerns, and police are examining funding-related offences. The party is already trailing Labour in polls ahead of a 2029 contest.

Our analysis

The Guardian (15 Oct 2026), BBC News (14 Oct 2026), Reuters (14 Oct 2026)

Go deeper

• What immediate actions is Reform UK taking to rebuild trust?
• How will Labour and other parties respond to the ongoing revelations?
• What impact will the ITV footage have on local elections next year?

More on these topics

• Nigel Farage - Member of the European Parliament

  Nigel Paul Farage is a British politician. He has been leader of the Brexit Party since 2019, and served as Member of the European Parliament for South East England from 1999 until the United Kingdom's exit from the EU in 2020.

• Reform UK - Political party

  Reform UK is a populist political party in the United Kingdom. It was founded as The Brexit Party with a focus on Euroscepticism in November 2018, until being renamed on 6 January 2021.

• Solihull - Town in England

  Solihull is a large town and administrative centre in England with a population of 123,187 in the 2011 Census. Historically in Warwickshire, it is the largest town in, and administrative centre of, the larger Metropolitan Borough of Solihull, which itself

• ITV - Wikimedia disambiguation page

  ITV or iTV may refer to:

• United Kingdom - Country in Europe

  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the north­western coast of the European mainland.