Reform UK is once again embroiled in scandal after an undercover investigation by ITV captured footage of party figures making racist, sexist and other concerning remarks. The revelations come as the party battles sliding poll ratings and faces questions over a £5million gift to leader Nigel Farage.
Farage began the week by announcing plans to effectively close down the UK's asylum system if elected, standing in front of a massive replica small boat. The proposals drew criticism from the Catholic Church and refugee charities. Robert Jenrick later said Reform would use "lethal force" on migrants in the Channel, a policy described as "horrifying" by Lord Alf Dubs, who was given sanctuary in the UK after fleeing the Nazis as a child.
Undercover footage reveals offensive remarks
ITV's year-long probe, which began airing on Wednesday, showed a Reform councillor saying his area was "infested" with Asian homeowners, another describing Black children as "f***** animals", and Reform MP Sarah Pochin branding the party's press team "f***ing chauvinistic".
Jenrick tried to deflect questions on the revelations, insisting every party has "bad apples" but that they had suspended individuals where necessary.
Reform launches media blitz as polls fall
Reform will next week launch its latest media strategy to regain control of the narrative. Some 20 million people will receive an eight-page newspaper through their letterbox, including messages from Farage and articles setting out Reform's policies. Labour called it "desperate distraction tactics".
Polls suggest the troubles are cutting through. Reform fell to third place in opinion polls for the second time this week, with a More in Common survey putting Labour ahead on 28%, the Tories second on 24% and Reform behind on 21%. Ipsos polling shows the public are now more likely to say the Conservatives, not Reform, are the main opposition to Labour.
A Labour source told The Mirror: "Reform can stick as many leaflets through doors as they like, it won't stop the millions and millions of people seeing their sleaze, scandals and downright dodgy behaviour blaring through their TV screens every week. How long can it be before Reform realises Farage is now a complete liability?"
A senior Reform source said: "We're quite calm about it. Twenty million people will start getting mail from us directly from next week. Voters are going to hear straight from us in an eight-page newspaper with Reform policies, messages from Nigel."
Farage's image under threat
Farage suggested ITV's investigation was carried out "because the establishment frankly want us out of the picture". But his anti-establishment image is under threat, especially with the looming result of a Commons probe into the £5m gift from cryptobillionaire Christopher Harborne before the 2024 General Election.
Polling expert Luke Tryl said the "danger" of the £5m sum is that it shatters the image that Farage is different to other politicians. He told The Mirror: "You broadly get three groups. You get one group who sort of say: 'Good on him.' They're the true believers. You get another group who are like: 'Oh yeah, but don't they all do this?' And then you get the third group who are like: 'Oh, maybe Farage is just the same as all of the others. He's just in it for himself.'"
Tryl also said the Tories' recovery under Kemi Badenoch is a "challenge" for Reform, adding: "The battle for the right is more wide open than it was and that's a challenge for them." The Reform source insisted: "We're not stressed about the Tories. They've been ahead of us in two of six polls."
The ITV probe will continue over the weekend, with the full documentary to be aired on Sunday night. It has already triggered calls for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to launch a statutory investigation into Reform. Labour MP Mike Tapp told The Mirror: "We don't want to see any form of racism, discrimination or extremism anywhere near our politics. I have made a referral to the EHRC to investigate the Reform Party further."
If the Standards Commissioner finds Farage breached parliamentary rules over the £5m gift, the Clacton MP could face a suspension and a by-election. The major political parties boycotted the July by-election, but they are expected to stand candidates this time, meaning a tighter race. Farage branded the last by-election a "people versus the establishment" showdown, but despite winning, Reform's popularity has continued to fall.
