Reform councillor quits over offensive remarks

Nigel Jenrick, the UK Treasury spokesperson and MP for Newark, claimed that Nigel Farage has done more than "almost anybody" to combat racism and the far right, despite ongoing allegations that Reform UK harbours extremists. His comments followed an undercover investigation by ITV Exposure, which exposed internal discussions within Reform UK involving racist, Islamophobic, and misogynistic remarks by party members. The investigation also revealed that Farage was reportedly advised by a senior official that he was "protecting" a mayoral candidate accused of making racist comments about David Lammy, the former Labour deputy prime minister. The footage, obtained through a year-long undercover operation, includes conversations between Farage and Ed Sumner, Reform UK's head of communications. In one exchange, Sumner is heard telling Farage that he was "protecting" Chris Parry, a retired rear admiral who ran for the mayoral election in Hampshire and the Solent. Parry had previously posted on social media suggesting that Lammy should "go home to the Caribbean" and implied that several politicians of minority ethnic backgrounds lacked loyalty to the UK. Despite criticism, Reform UK initially supported Parry until he was suspended in March after further controversial remarks were uncovered. During the recorded conversation, Farage instructed Parry to apologize to Lammy, saying, "He must do it and move on ... Tell him that from me." When Sumner remarked that he was "protecting him," Farage responded with humor, saying, "It’s showing a bit of ... bit of sorrow. Look, ‘I’m sorry’ is probably a good thing to hear. Just take the fucking deal. Trouble is he’s a rear admiral. That’s the problem." Jenrick defended Reform UK's vetting process, stating that all political parties have "bad apples" and that their vetting procedures are stronger than those of other parties. He noted that Councillor Alan Feeney, who made racist remarks during the investigation, had previously been a Conservative councillor. Jenrick emphasized that Reform UK conducts thorough vetting and continues to improve its processes. The ITV investigation also captured Reform MP Sarah Pochin expressing frustration with the party's treatment of women. She criticized senior officials for being "so fucking chauvinistic" and stated that women are often excluded from decision-making roles. Pochin, the party's only female MP at the time, lamented the challenges faced by women in a predominantly male environment. Labour party chair Bridget Phillipson condemned the revelations, stating that they "go right to the top of Reform UK" and urging Farage to "wake up and realize the buck stops with him." She criticized Farage for failing to address the issues within the party and questioned his commitment to removing extremists. The undercover investigation has led to several councillors resigning or being suspended, including Alan Feeney, who resigned from Reform UK citing "personal reasons." Other individuals, such as Jamie Campbell and Chris Whelan, were also implicated in the footage for making offensive remarks. Reform UK has denied wrongdoing, accusing ITV of using deceptive methods to gather information. Farage acknowledged that vetting cannot prevent future misconduct, stating that "you can't vet for future comments." He maintained that Reform UK vets candidates to a higher standard than other parties and promised appropriate action following the exposure of these incidents. However, critics argue that the party's leadership has failed to adequately address the issues highlighted by the investigation.