Britain's hard-right Reform UK party is once again under the spotlight after an undercover investigation by ITV News recorded party candidates and councillors using racist language. The 90-minute programme, titled Undercover: A Year in Reform, is set to air on Sunday, but excerpts released on Thursday have already triggered a political storm.
In one clip, black children are referred to as “animals”. In another, a Reform member complains that his area has become “infested” with Asian families, calling them “absolute parasites”. The footage was gathered during the local elections in May and across four by-election campaigns in 2025 and 2026.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has been riding a wave of anti-immigration sentiment, but this latest scandal threatens to undermine its credibility. The party responded by saying that “where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced.” It added that “in some cases, there have been suspensions and due process must be followed.”
The party also defended its vetting procedures, claiming they have been “improved and prioritised”, but acknowledged that “from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting.” In a statement, Reform insisted: “There is no room for racism in Reform UK.”
Labour seizes on the revelations
Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson was quick to condemn the comments, describing them as examples of “extreme racism”. She directly challenged Farage, saying: “Farage can't shrug these latest revelations off as being a few bad apples.”
The scandal comes at a delicate time for Reform UK, which has already faced months of scrutiny over its finances. Last month, Farage's long-term aide Dan Jukes and the party's head of policy James Orr resigned after the party was reported to police over alleged breaches of donation rules, following a separate undercover investigation by Channel 4 News.
Farage has also been dealing with questions over a £5.0-million (€5.9 million) personal gift from Thai-based British businessman Christopher Harborne. The party's financial arrangements have been under intense media and regulatory scrutiny.
Despite these controversies, Reform UK had surged ahead in opinion polls last year. However, a YouGov survey this week places the party third, behind the ruling Labour Party in first place and the Conservatives in second. The latest figures suggest that the party's momentum may be stalling, and this new scandal could further dent its support.
The ITV investigation is expected to provide more damaging evidence when it airs in full on Sunday. Political analysts note that while Reform UK has positioned itself as a disruptor in British politics, its ability to translate that into sustained electoral success may be hampered by recurring controversies over the conduct of its members.
For now, the party is trying to contain the damage, but the revelations have already reignited debates about the nature of the hard-right in British politics and the challenges of vetting a rapidly expanding grassroots movement.
