Reform UK reports ITV to police following racist language exposure
Reform UK has reported ITV to the police after an undercover investigation exposed party councillors and candidates using racist language, reports BritPanorama.
Zia Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesperson, announced on Wednesday that the party intends to launch civil proceedings against multiple ITV journalists and the broadcaster’s board of directors.
The controversial exposé showed Black children being referred to as “animals”, while another clip included a Reform activist stating that asylum seekers should be placed in concentration camps. Reform members were also recorded expressing derogatory views regarding ethnic minorities.
In a video shared on social media site X, Yusuf stated that the party has reported individual journalists to the police for potential breaches of fraud and elections law during the production of the documentary.
He remarked, “We have reported multiple ITV journalists and their board of directors to the police and will be taking legal action against all of them. Journalists are supposed to report the news. These ones set out to create it.”
Moreover, Yusuf claimed that an undercover ITV reporter who gained employment as a Reform press officer had “doctored” her passport. Additionally, two reporters participating in campaigning activities were reported to the police, as it is illegal to pay someone to canvass for a party.
Reform has also filed a report against ITV’s board, asserting that they financed the undercover reporters, and is pursuing civil proceedings against them. Yusuf elaborated, “We will pursue this through the courts relentlessly. Many Reform staff members and volunteers were psychologically manipulated by ITV’s undercover reporters.”
He characterized ITV’s actions as “a form of psychological warfare,” asserting that they aimed to create a sense of paranoia among party members and discourage community engagement in politics.
It remains unclear which police force Reform has approached regarding the report, and both the party and ITV have been contacted for comments.
Meanwhile, during Prime Minister’s Questions, Andy Burnham remarked that Reform UK has yet to take adequate measures to combat racism within the party following the documentary’s release. He emphasized the need for all political parties to confront racism directly, stating, “We are still waiting to see the right level of action from the party opposite.”
