Reform UK Faces Scrutiny Over Candidate Vetting Following Undercover Filming

Reform UK is facing renewed questions regarding its candidate vetting procedures following an undercover filming operation by ITV News. The investigation, conducted over a year, captured footage of a local party chairman advising an undercover reporter to delete social media posts supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson before encouraging the reporter to apply to be a local councillor.

In separate footage, a former Reform candidate alleged that he was permitted to stand for election despite failing the party's vetting process on two occasions. Reform UK has disputed this claim, stating the individual did not fail vetting.

The party acknowledged that "from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting," adding that "this is the same for all organisations." Reform stated it has "improved and prioritised its vetting procedures."

These developments follow earlier undercover filming broadcast by ITV News, which revealed some Reform councillors and candidates allegedly using racist, violent, and sexist language. The party has asserted that "there is no room for racism in Reform UK" and that it respects due process in ongoing investigations.

Reform UK has criticized the ITV investigation, accusing it of employing "extreme methods of deception" and using false information to secure the undercover role. The party's leader, Nigel Farage, had previously pledged to vet candidates more rigorously two years ago, after a series of candidates were dropped due to offensive or racist comments. However, the party has continued to face scrutiny over the effectiveness of its vetting processes.

Farage stated on Thursday that his party vets candidates to a higher standard than others but conceded that "you can't vet for future comments."

During the undercover filming, the reporter, after leafleting with Reform activists, was reportedly asked by Ian Frost, the chairman of a local Reform branch in Chester, if he would consider standing as a councillor. Frost described this as the initial stage of vetting. When the reporter mentioned past social media support for Tommy Robinson, Frost advised deleting such posts and starting a new account, stating, "Anything where you've got, things, Tommy Robinson or anything like that, okay, I would delete the account and I'd start again." Farage has previously stated that Robinson would not be permitted to join Reform.

Frost suggested the reporter could potentially become a councillor and later pursue a Member of Parliament role, emphasizing the importance of managing social media presence for such applications. Frost told ITV News he believed the reporter was a genuine candidate and gave him the benefit of the doubt, adding that it was unfair to judge individuals on a single conversation. He has since left Reform for reasons unrelated to the filming.

Alex Lomas, a former Reform candidate, claimed in the film that he failed the party's vetting process twice, including for sharing posts from Tommy Robinson. Lomas stated that a few days after his second rejection, he was asked to stand as a candidate for the party. He is recorded as saying, "On my second application, I got declined on the Friday, I got an email from them on the Tuesday saying you've passed vetting." He recounted questioning the validity of the email given his recent failure, only to be called a few days later and asked to stand for Reform UK.

Lomas stood for Reform in local elections in Oldham in May but was unsuccessful. The BBC has been unable to contact Lomas, and he did not respond to ITV News' requests for comment. Reform UK denies that Lomas failed the vetting process.

The ITV report also included footage of Farage discussing controversial mayoral candidate Dr. Chris Parry, who had made remarks about then-Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy. Farage suggested Parry should apologize but not stand down. Ed Sumner, Reform's director of communications, is heard suggesting Farage was "protecting" Parry. In response, Farage indicated Parry was "showing a bit of sorrow."

In a separate earlier conversation, Sumner was recorded calling Parry "clearly a racist" and stating he "needs to go." Parry, after apologizing to Lammy in January, was allowed to remain Reform's mayoral candidate for Hampshire and the Solent until he was suspended in March pending an investigation into comments about a Jewish voluntary patrol service. Parry has since left the party and told the BBC there was no investigation. He urged people to consider the original context of his remarks, which he stated related to reparations and government failures, and asserted his right to criticize those in power.

Bridget Phillipson, chairwoman of the Labour Party, criticized the revelations, stating they "go right to the top of Reform UK" and that Farage "needs to wake up." She questioned why he allegedly stood by a candidate described as a "blatant racist" instead of removing him from the party, asserting that Farage has repeatedly failed to address issues within Reform UK.