An undercover investigation has recorded a would-be Reform UK MP saying Muslims cannot be British and that asylum seekers crossing the Channel should be put in “concentration camps”. The footage, obtained by ITV, also captured the activist describing himself as “pretty hardline about Islam”.
Undercover recordings reveal activist's comments
In the recording, the activist said: “If a Muslim’s prepared to de-convert, I’m happy. But if they want to remain faithful to Islam, then this would be, I would have disagreements, especially with, um, I mean, as far as I understand, (Reform home affairs spokesman) Zia Yusuf is a Muslim… To me… you cannot be a Muslim and British… It’s like oil and water.”
Discussing people crossing the Channel in small boats, the same activist said: “In the first week of election, build concentration camps, and everyone who comes across on the Channel, you’re in there.”
Further footage and party response
Other footage included a Reform councillor saying the party’s board was “hardline”, adding they held views that would result in their expulsion if expressed publicly. Earlier excerpts from the investigation included councillors and candidates within Reform using racist language, with black children referred to as “animals” and a member saying his area had become “infested” with Asian families.
In a separate clip, Reform MP Sarah Pochin described the party as “chauvinistic”, adding: “They just exclude you if you’re a woman.”
Political reactions and defence
Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said Nigel Farage’s response to the revelations showed he was “completely unfit to lead”. She said: “Bad apples don’t fall far from the tree. The sleaze, scandals and appalling revelations of racism and rank misogyny piling up by the day go right to the top of Reform UK. Nigel Farage is incapable of taking responsibility and getting his house in order because he himself shares culpability.”
Speaking earlier in the week, Mr Farage defended his party, saying that while Reform carries out vetting “you can’t vet people for what they say in the future”. He added: “I put it to you, if you went and spoke to hundreds of Conservative councillors and tried to provoke them you would find all sorts of things and all sorts of comments said.”
In a statement to ITV, Reform said: “Reform UK has 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. This is the same for all organisations. However good the vetting, one cannot vet a future comment. There is no room for racism in Reform UK. We always respect due process of investigations and whilst these are ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.”
