Reform councillor resigns over racist comments
A Reform councillor filmed by an undercover journalist questioning the presence of Asian homeowners in the UK has resigned, citing his remarks as “completely unacceptable,” reports BritPanorama.
Alan Feeney, previously serving on Solihull and Birmingham City Councils, featured in an ITV investigation where he was recorded asserting that no more than 1 per cent of the UK population should be non-white. His statements drew widespread condemnation.
In a Facebook post, Feeney stated, “My remarks were wrong, offensive and completely unacceptable. They do not reflect the standards that the public rightly expects from an elected representative, and I take full responsibility for what I said.”
He further insisted, “The comments do not reflect my true beliefs or opinions, particularly of the communities mentioned in the report. These are communities I have supported countless times in my personal and professional life over many years, many of whom I have been lucky enough to call friends.”
Emphasising accountability, he added, “There is no excuse for my comments. With responsibility comes accountability, and it is for that reason that I have resigned every post I hold on both Solihull Borough Council and Birmingham City Council.”
Feeney, appointed as deputy mayor of Solihull after winning seats in the Shard End and Castle Bromwich wards, expressed hope for healing within the councils and communities following his resignation, noting that by-elections would follow the established timelines of the councils.
Initially, after ITV aired the first segment of their investigation, he had announced plans to leave Reform for “personal reasons” while remaining an independent councillor. However, he has now fully resigned amid escalating scrutiny.
The Ministry of Justice has suspended Feeney from his position in the prison service, denouncing his comments as “despicable.” The undercover footage was part of an ITV Exposure documentary documenting local elections and candidacies across England and Wales in 2025 and 2026.
In the footage, he allegedly made inflammatory remarks about forcibly removing Asian individuals from their homes and sending them to Pakistan. Another councillor, Chris Whelan, who also made inappropriate comments, has since resigned from Reform, citing personal and health reasons.
In response to the ITV report, Solihull Borough Council stated, “There is no place for this disgusting racist discriminatory and misogynistic language in public life, and these comments do not represent the values of Solihull Council or its residents.”
Whelan’s resignation adds further pressure on the party, which has faced backlash over the conduct of some of its members. A spokesperson for Reform UK confirmed that not all individuals recorded were current members and that investigations into the actions of those who behaved inappropriately are underway.
They acknowledged the need for improved vetting processes, despite stating that occasional incidents involving members not aligned with the party’s values may occur. Recent investigations highlight the broader challenges the party faces as it navigates scrutiny following the leaked comments and controversy.
The investigation also notes that the parties involved are subject to harmful targeting, detailed in the undercover report albeit not addressed in the final broadcast. Previous statements from Nigel Farage have reiterated the desire for vetting improvements within the party, aiming to disassociate from extremist sentiments.
The resignation of Feeney serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges of accountability in politics, inviting scrutiny not only of individual actions but also of institutional responses to such incidents.
