Reform chief says racist comments are ‘disgusting’

Dudley’s Reform UK deputy leader branded racist and sexist comments from party members recorded by ITV undercover reporters as ‘disgusting’.

The ITV reporting has so far named several councillors and candidates from around the UK including three in Solihull who were filmed making offensive comments.

No Dudley Reform UK members or councillors have been named in the ITV reporting.

Reform UK is currently the second largest group on Dudley Council and the official opposition to the authority’s minority Conservative administration.

In a statement published on social media, Cllr Shaun Keasey said: “I’ve seen some of the comments reported by ITV and I want to be absolutely clear: I think they are disgusting.

“Racist, sexist or otherwise deeply offensive views have no place in Reform UK, and I hope the party deals robustly and appropriately with anybody found to have behaved in that way.

“There can be no excuses for it.”

Nationally Reform UK says the party has improved its vetting procedures but from time to time people who do not share the party’s values will get through.

One of the Reform UK councillors named by ITV, Cllr Alan Feeney defected from the Conservative Party in 2025 and Cllr Keasey stressed other political groups should face equal scrutiny.

He said: “I do, however, have a separate concern about the extraordinary level of attention that appears to be focused specifically on Reform by sections of the mainstream media.

“Investigative journalism is important and political parties should absolutely be scrutinised, but that scrutiny should be applied consistently. No political party is immune from having individuals within it who hold unacceptable views.

“Here in Dudley, we have a fantastic Reform group made up of decent, hardworking people who are doing exactly what residents elected us to do: setting the agenda, challenging decisions and scrutinising the council on behalf of the people we represent.

“Reform has grown incredibly quickly, and with that growth comes a responsibility to keep strengthening its procedures, its candidate selection and its vetting. I have no doubt that process will continue.

“Where people fall short of the standards expected of them, they should be dealt with.”

By Martyn Smith | Local Democracy Reporting Service