Equalities Watchdog Writes to Reform UK Over Racist and Sexual Remarks in Documentary

Britain's official equalities watchdog, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), has written to Nigel Farage's Reform UK party to raise concerns after an undercover television documentary showed the party's councillors and candidates expressing racist and misogynistic views.

ITV's "Undercover: A Year in Reform" was broadcast in October. It showed Alan Feeney, a Reform councillor and deputy mayor of Solihull, calling Asian homeowners "parasites", making Islamophobic remarks, and stating that no more than 1 percent of the British population can be non-white.

Other candidates were recorded making comments of extreme violence and deeply misogynistic and racist views, including a Bromley councillor calling for King Charles to be killed and another councillor making disturbing sexual comments about female colleagues.

In another section, Reform MP Sarah Pochin was shown complaining that the party was "chauvinistic".

An EHRC statement said its letter asked Reform to provide information, including what action the party is taking to comply with the Equality Act. After the documentary, the commission said, it received complaints alleging unlawful activity under the Equality Act 2010, including concerns about racial and sexual remarks by councillors, prospective councillors and members.

The commission said it would assess the information carefully, as with every complaint, and take action where appropriate after that consideration. Political parties, like all duty-bearers, must comply with the Equality Act and take steps to avoid discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, religion or belief and sex, it added.

Weeks earlier, the EHRC also wrote to the Greens in England and Wales seeking more information about a new party policy that equates Zionism with racism and calls for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state.

Farage has said the party's vetting procedures have improved greatly. 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."