The official equalities watchdog has written to Reform UK to raise concerns after an undercover TV documentary showed councillors and candidates for the party expressing racist and misogynistic views, with one of the party’s MPs complaining about ingrained sexism.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it had written to Nigel Farage’s party in the wake of revelations in ITV’s Undercover: A Year in Reform, which was broadcast in October.
While Farage has said the party’s vetting procedures have improved greatly, footage in the programme included Alan Feeney, a Reform councillor and deputy mayor of Solihull, calling Asian homeowners “parasites”, making Islamophobic remarks, and stating that “no more than 1% of [the] British population can be non-white”.
Other candidates were recorded making comments of extreme violence and sharing deeply misogynistic and racist views, including a Bromley councillor calling for King Charles to be killed and another councillor who made disturbing sexual and misogynistic comments about female colleagues.
In another section, the Reform MP Sarah Pochin was shown complaining that the party was “chauvinistic” and riven with “alpha male shit”.
An EHRC statement said its letter had asked Reform to provide information, “including what action the party is taking to comply with the Equality Act”.
In the wake of the documentary, the statement said, the EHRC “received complaints alleging unlawful activity under the Equality Act 2010, including concerns about racial and sexual remarks expressed by councillors, prospective councillors and members”.
It went on: “As with every complaint we receive, we will assess the information provided carefully and, following that consideration, take action where appropriate.
“Political parties, like all duty-bearers, must comply with the Equality Act and take steps to avoid discrimination or harassment including on the grounds of race, religion or belief and sex. We have guidance advising parties on their responsibilities under the act and urge them to consider it. This could include reviewing party policies or practices to identify areas of potential discrimination, harassment or victimisation that need to be addressed.”
It comes weeks after the EHRC wrote to the Greens in England and Wales to seek more information about a new party policy which equates Zionism with racism and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state.
Reform has said it reported ITV and the reporters concerned to police, with separate threats of civil legal action against the broadcaster.
Responding to the EHRC letter, a party spokesperson said: “We are confident we have fully complied with our obligations under the Equality Act. There is no room for racism in Reform UK.”
