Reform UK faces new vetting scrutiny following undercover footage

Reform UK is facing scrutiny over candidate vetting procedures following undercover footage broadcast by ITV News. An undercover reporter was advised by a local party chairman to delete social media posts supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson before applying to run as a councillor. BBC News reported on October 15 that the footage was gathered over the course of a year. [1]

The broadcast shows a former Reform candidate claiming he failed the party vetting process twice but was still permitted to run for councillor. Reform UK denied that the individual failed vetting in the first place, according to BBC News. The party stated that it has improved and prioritised its vetting procedures. [1]

Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party led by Nigel Farage since June 2024. As FTMQ News reported earlier, three Reform UK councillors recently resigned after covert ITV recordings captured them making racist, sexist, and violent comments. [2][4]

Reform UK controls 26 local councils and holds eight seats in the House of Commons. The party achieved a breakthrough during the July 2024 general election by securing five seats in Parliament, including Farage winning in Clacton. [2][3][4]