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Britain’s hard-right anti-immigration Reform UK party was hit by a fresh scandal on Thursday after party councillors and candidates were filmed in an undercover investigation using racist language.
In one excerpt from the 90-minute programme “Undercover: A Year in Reform” by ITV News, black children were referred to as “animals”.
In another, a Reform member said his area had become “infested” with Asian families, calling them “absolute parasites”.
The broadcast followed Reform UK candidates and councillors during local elections in May and at four by-election campaigns in 2025 and 2026.
Reacting to the release of the excerpts, a Reform spokesperson said that “where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced.”
“In some cases, there have been suspensions and due process must be followed.”
It said the party had “improved and prioritised its vetting procedures, but from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting”.
“There is no room for racism in Reform UK.”
Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson called the comments examples of “extreme racism”.
“Farage can’t shrug these latest revelations off as being a few bad apples,” she said party leader Nigel Farage.
Last month Farage’s long-term aide, Dan Jukes, and Reform head of policy James Orr stepped down after the party was reported to police over allegations it flouted donation rules following an undercover investigation by Channel 4 News.
Farage has faced months of intense scrutiny over his party’s financial arrangements, as well as a separate £5.0-million (€5.9 million) personal gift to him from Thai-based British businessman, Christopher Harborne.
Last year, Reform soared ahead in opinion polls but YouGov’s latest survey this week put the party third behind the ruling Labour Party in first place and the Conservatives in second.
The ITV investigation is due to be broadcast on Sunday.
Additional sources • AFP