Farage defends Reform's vetting after councillors filmed making racist comments
Nigel Farage has defended Reform UK's vetting processes after an undercover ITV investigation captured party members making racist and offensive comments. Farage argued that the party maintains high standards but cannot predict future behavior of individuals.
Why it matters
The controversy raises questions about political party accountability and the effectiveness of candidate vetting in the current UK political climate.
Image source, PA Media By Becky Morton Political reporter Published 47 minutes ago Warning: This report contains racist and offensive language.
Nigel Farage has insisted Reform UK does not have an issue with vetting, after ITV News broadcast undercover filming of some of its councillors and candidates using racist, violent and sexist language.
The Reform leader told BBC Look East his party vetted "to a much higher standard than other parties" but "you can't vet for future comments".
In the film, Undercover: A Year in Reform , external , a Reform councillor and deputy mayor of Solihull is recorded calling Asian homeowners "parasites".
ITV's filming, gathered over a year, involved eight figures in Reform – the BBC does not know how many it spoke to in total.
Reform says the people filmed by ITV are all under investigation, and have already either resigned or been suspended.
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