Reform UK has accused the BBC of “bias” and says it will submit a formal complaint to Ofcom, claiming the broadcaster disproportionately targets the party compared with its political rivals.
Analysis by Nigel Farage’s party said the corporation reported on 50% of Reform councillors who had resigned, defected, or been suspended or expelled since this May’s local elections. Reform said this compared with 25% of Labour councillors and just 6.5% of Conservatives.
Claims of missed stories
Among the stories the BBC “missed”, Reform cited Labour councillors charged with sexual assault and fraud, plus a Conservative who starred in a documentary openly leering at young women.
The party’s analysis covers the period since the May local elections, and follows a similar study a year earlier. That earlier analysis showed the BBC reported on 95% of Reform councillors who had resigned, defected, or been suspended or expelled, compared with just over 15% of Labour and Conservative councillors who had lost their party whip between May and November 2025.
Councillor turnover figures
Between May 1, 2025 and October 15 this year, Reform said it had seen the lowest turnover of councillors of the three major parties, both as an actual number and as a percentage of its current total councillor count. According to the analysis, the Conservatives have had a turnover of 333 (8.62%) councillors, Labour 378 (8.27%) and Reform 184 (7.67%).
Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice said: “The BBC's blatant bias against Reform is on show for the second year running. Through selective reporting, they are specifically targeting Reform councillors and giving those from establishment parties a free ride.
“This is not journalism. It is more akin to a political campaign machine for the status quo parties. BBC bosses are clearly terrified because they know a Reform government would axe the licence fee and threaten their gold-plated pensions.
“We will be submitting a formal complaint to Ofcom and considering legal action against the BBC for bias.”
BBC response
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC reports without fear or favour and holds power, and those who seek power, to account.
“Anyone watching, reading or listening to our coverage can be in no doubt that we report, scrutinise and provide analysis on the current government and other political parties across a range of significant topics.
“The methodology of this analysis is unclear, but you can’t measure impartiality by counting articles on one particular topic.”
