Nigel Farage speaks to Essex County Council leader Peter Harris (Image: Will Colebourne/the Press Association)
Nigel Farage slammed the “establishment” for their latest attack on Reform as he claimed Tory members hold worse views. An ITV News investigation found councillors and candidates within Reform UK had used racist language. In one excerpt, black children were referred to as “animals”, while in another a Reform member said his area had become “infested” with Asian families.
But the Reform UK leader, speaking exclusively to the Daily Express, dismissed fears that people with racist views were particularly attracted to his party. And he suggested sending spies into the Tory party.
Mr Farage revealed ITV News “infiltrated” the party’s headquarters, and only “got me telling a joke” and a “press officer using a swear word”. He told the Daily Express: “They wouldn’t do it to anybody else, would they?
I mean, they’ve spent a year on this, goodness knows how much money.
“The worst miscreant, whose quotes have been all over the BBC and everywhere, was, of course, a long-term Tory councillor. But he was never followed undercover as a Tory councillor, was he? But he has been in Reform.
“They have met literally hundreds of people. They’ve been to all the by-elections. They’ve spoken to hundreds of people. They’ve tried to provoke conversations, and they’ve managed to find a handful of people who said unpleasant things, which we have acted on already.”
He continued: “The idea that this is somehow a failure of our vetting is absolutely for the birds. You can’t vet what people are going to say in the future. You can’t vet what people say to each other.
“They would not do this to any other party.
And it’s yet another example, after Channel 4 and all the rest of it. I mean, this literally is the establishment trying to do everything they can to throw us out of the picture.”
Asked if Reform was attracting the wrong sort of character, Mr Farage said: “Not compared to the Conservative Party, no.
“The worst miscreant was a long-term Conservative. A Kemi supporter.”
Mr Farage said his party vets “much more heavily than other parties”.
Asked how Reform can convince voters it doesn’t have a racism problem, Mr Farage said: “That’s what they’re trying to do. That’s exactly what they – I tell you what, maybe what I’ll do is I’ll commission a team of undercover [operatives], and we’ll go and speak to a thousand Tory councillors. You’ll find worse.
“You’ll find it everywhere.
“You’ll find it in the pub tonight.
It’s people, and particularly if they’re provoking conversation. Not everyone’s been to Oxford University. Not everyone’s been to Eton.
“Not everyone expresses themselves in very carefully formulated language. People just say what they blooming-well think.
“The massive investment that is going in to try and discredit an entire political movement on a handful of people here and a handful of people there tells you, frankly, all you need to know.”
The Reform UK leader insisted his party will rise back up through the polls.
Nigel Farage speaks to Daily Express Home Affairs Editor Michael Knowles (Image: STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY)
He said: “This is all just absolute nonsense.
“Think how many MPs have been to prison. Think how many, you know, ex-MPs have done goodness knows what over the years. I mean, the effective Deputy Prime Minister is a convicted fraudster.
“What is more serious?
Some bloke representing a small district council who says something that is unpleasant, or the Deputy Prime Minister being a convicted fraudster? It’s about scale.”
Asked how he will convince voters a Reform Government wouldn’t be scandal after scandal, Mr Farage said: “It depends how it’s portrayed. It depends how it’s portrayed.”
He added: “We are with the biggest political party in Britain by membership. We’ve got millions of supporters. You know, I mean you could go down the street now and find someone who says he’s a Reform voter and you find he’s a convicted murderer. Would you judge me by him? I hope not.”
In the run-up to the 2026 local election, Councillor Alan Feeney, the deputy mayor of Solihull, was filmed undercover with Reform local election candidates Jamie Campbell and Chris Whelan.
In one instance, Whelan was filmed talking about a female Reform candidate where he said “‘If she’d have given me a hug, I’d have f****** fingered her”.
When talking about another female Reform candidate, Whelan said: “F*** me, if she was my daughter, it would still be bath night on a Thursday… Time for your bath… I’ll wash you properly this time. Yes. Dirty bastard”.
Feeney also called Asian homeowners “parasites”.
He was caught on camera adding: “I’d be saying no more than 1% of [the] British population can be non-white… you’d need a proper nuclear option, like literally drag them out of their homes, stick them on planes and f*** them off to Pakistan, which you’ll never do in a month of Sundays… You just have to make it a country they don’t want to be in… I mean you’re getting to a point where you ban Muslims from standing from public office”.
Asked by reporters about the investigation during a visit to the North West, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “We’ve allowed a poison into our politics in recent years, and it’s time to draw a line under it.
“In fact, I praised the Leader of the Opposition (Kemi Badenoch) in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon, who herself drew a line at her party conference between her party and that type of politics, and we all need to call it out more.
“I’m pleased ITV has done this.
“There is no place for any form of racism, antisemitism, discrimination in British politics, and we all should be relentless in repeating that and taking the firmest possible action.
“And I hope the Reform Party will take immediate and firm action against those who’ve been revealed to be making these abhorrent comments.”
Farage Explodes over ITV’s Reform UK Undercover Operation – And Fires a Brutal Shot at the Tories!
Nigel Farage has launched a furious response following an ITV undercover investigation into Reform UK, triggering another major political controversy and raising serious questions about the party’s internal culture, leadership and future electoral prospects. The Reform UK leader has strongly criticised the broadcaster’s investigation, while using the controversy to attack the Conservative Party and question its credibility as an alternative government.
The confrontation has created an uncomfortable situation for British politics. Reform UK has built much of its popularity around promises of political transparency, opposition to establishment institutions and a determination to challenge traditional political parties. However, an undercover investigation involving individuals connected with the party has placed its own standards of behaviour under intense scrutiny.
For Farage, the challenge is twofold: defending his party against allegations arising from the investigation while convincing voters that Reform UK represents a genuine alternative to the Conservatives and Labour.
ITV’s Investigation Sparks Political Storm
Undercover investigations are among the most controversial tools used by television journalists. They can reveal information that might otherwise remain hidden, but they also raise questions about journalistic methods, context and fairness.
The ITV investigation has attracted attention because of allegations concerning the behaviour and comments of individuals associated with Reform UK. The revelations have generated questions about the party’s internal organisation and the standards expected from people representing a national political movement.
Reform UK has challenged the broadcaster’s approach and questioned whether the material presented provides a fair representation of the individuals involved.
However, the controversy has also created pressure for the party to address the substance of the allegations rather than concentrating exclusively on the methods used by journalists.
Political parties must recognise that their representatives are expected to behave responsibly. When serious allegations emerge, voters naturally want explanations, evidence and appropriate action.
Farage Goes on the Offensive
Rather than allowing the investigation to dominate the political conversation without challenge, Farage has adopted an aggressive response.
He has questioned ITV’s motives and suggested that the investigation forms part of a wider attempt to damage Reform UK’s growing political influence.
This response reflects Farage’s long-standing criticism of established media organisations. He has frequently argued that political broadcasters and newspapers treat Reform UK differently from traditional political parties.
His supporters may interpret his reaction as an attempt to defend a movement that is frequently subjected to hostile scrutiny. They believe that political organisations should have the opportunity to challenge reporting they consider misleading or unfair.
Critics, however, argue that attacking the broadcaster does not automatically answer questions about the conduct of party representatives.
The distinction is important. Journalists should be held accountable for inaccurate reporting, but political organisations must also take responsibility for investigating credible allegations involving their members.
A Brutal Attack on the Conservatives
The controversy has also provided Farage with another opportunity to attack the Conservative Party.
Reform UK has consistently argued that the Conservatives failed to deliver on important promises during their years in government, particularly concerning immigration, economic growth and public services.
Farage has attempted to position his party as the political alternative for voters who feel disappointed by successive Conservative administrations.
The argument is particularly significant because Reform UK and the Conservatives are competing for many of the same voters.
Both parties appeal to people concerned about immigration, taxation, national sovereignty and the performance of government institutions. However, Reform UK has sought to distinguish itself by presenting its leadership as more willing to challenge established political conventions.
For the Conservatives, this creates a difficult problem. They must demonstrate that they can rebuild public trust while competing against a party that regularly uses their record in government as evidence of political failure.
Reform UK Faces Questions about Its Own Standards
Despite Farage’s criticism of ITV, the investigation raises a wider question about the internal culture of Reform UK.
A political party cannot build its reputation entirely around opposition to other organisations. It must also demonstrate that its own candidates, representatives and senior officials meet acceptable standards.
Voters expect political parties to have effective procedures for investigating misconduct and dealing with individuals whose behaviour damages public confidence.
This is particularly important for a party seeking to expand its representation in Parliament and potentially become part of a future government.
As Reform UK attracts more candidates and supporters, maintaining consistent standards becomes increasingly challenging.
The party must demonstrate that its commitment to accountability applies internally as well as to its political opponents.
The Media’s Role in British Democracy
The ITV controversy also raises important questions about investigative journalism.
Political reporting plays an essential role in democratic society. Journalists investigate public institutions, question politicians and reveal information that voters may consider important when deciding how to vote.
Undercover reporting can sometimes provide evidence that would be difficult to obtain through conventional interviews. Nevertheless, broadcasters must ensure that their investigations are conducted fairly and that material is presented accurately.
Political parties should be allowed to challenge reporting they believe is misleading. At the same time, criticism of the media should not become a way of avoiding legitimate questions.
The public ultimately benefits when journalists and politicians are both held to high standards.
Could the Controversy Damage Reform UK’s Electoral Ambitions?
Reform UK has experienced growing political attention by presenting itself as a challenger to Britain’s established political system.
Its message has attracted voters concerned about immigration, government spending, taxation and the perceived failure of traditional parties to deliver meaningful change.
However, electoral success brings greater scrutiny.
A party seeking to govern must demonstrate that it has more than popular slogans and strong television performances. It needs experienced representatives, credible policies and the ability to manage complex national institutions.
The ITV investigation could therefore become an important test of Reform UK’s political maturity.
If the party responds transparently and addresses legitimate concerns, it may be able to limit the damage. If it appears more interested in attacking journalists than answering questions, critics may argue that it is not ready for the responsibilities of government.
The Conservatives will undoubtedly seek to exploit any weaknesses, although their own political record means they cannot assume that voters will automatically return to them.
The Bigger Political Battle
The wider significance of this controversy lies in the changing structure of British politics.
For decades, the Conservatives and Labour dominated national elections. However, growing dissatisfaction with established political institutions has created opportunities for alternative parties.
Reform UK has benefited from this changing political environment by presenting itself as a movement prepared to challenge conventional political thinking.
Farage understands that the battle for public opinion is not simply about individual investigations. It is also about whether voters believe that traditional political parties have lost their connection with ordinary people.
Nevertheless, political popularity must eventually be translated into effective leadership and responsible government.
The party’s response to the ITV investigation will help determine whether it can successfully make that transition.
Conclusion
Nigel Farage’s furious response to ITV’s undercover investigation has created another major confrontation in British politics, while his attack on the Conservatives has intensified the competition on the political right.
The controversy raises important questions about investigative journalism, political accountability and the standards expected from parties seeking power.
Farage may argue that ITV’s investigation is unfair, and Reform UK is entitled to challenge reporting it considers inaccurate. However, the party must also address any credible concerns about the behaviour of its representatives.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, face the continuing challenge of convincing voters that they can offer something different after years of political difficulties.
Ultimately, this confrontation is about more than one television investigation. It is about public trust, political credibility and the future of Britain’s party system. Reform UK has built its reputation by promising to challenge the establishment. Now it must demonstrate that it can withstand scrutiny itself and meet the standards expected of a party that wants to govern the country.