An undercover sting by ITV shows a Reform councillor saying he wants to ‘machine gun’ grooming gang perpetrators, and an aspiring MP calling for ‘concentration camps’ in Britain
Nigel Farage was accused of ‘sitting on his hands’(Image: Gary Oakley/PA Wire)
Nigel Farage has been plunged into yet another crisis after fresh allegations of racism and bigotry in Reform.
An undercover sting by ITV shows a prominent member of Reform’s Board saying “I was racist every single day” at school, a Reform councillor saying he wants to “machine gun” grooming gang perpetrators, and an aspiring MP calling for “concentration camps” in Britain.
Mr Farage had vowed to kick out the “bad apples” and professionalise the party, but has now been accused of “sitting on his hands” as the allegations soar.
The footage shows Reform’s Board member Gawain Towler, saying “I was racist every single day against a friend.. I was racist every single day.”
Mr Towler told ITV that as a child he held views that were wrong and he is appalled by them now.
Footage also shows two Reform councillors, Adam Parkins and David Kerr from Hounslow in West London, saying the party will get more “hard line” if they get in power.
Mr Parkins said he would “quite happily do Sunday morning Rose Garden executions” for grooming gang perpetrators, while Mr Kerr, discussing how he’d reverse immigration, said “there’s no way you’re going to be able to even discuss a tenable solution without being called a f***ing Nazi.”
Councillor Kerr did not respond to request for comment, while Councillor Parkins said Reform policy is grooming gangs should face the toughest possible sentences under British law, and that is his view.
The footage also shows aspiring Reform MP Jason Powell saying he had passed vetting checks, then saying the party should “build concentration camps” for anyone who comes to Britain across the Channel. He also said “you cannot be a Muslim and British.”
Mr Powell told ITV his views are those of British people in general and are not extremist.
Responding to the allegations, Bridget Phillipson MP, Chair of the Labour Party, said: “Bad apples don’t fall far from the tree. The sleaze, scandals and appalling revelations of racism and rank misogyny piling up by the day go right to the top of Reform UK. Nigel Farage is incapable of taking responsibility and getting his house in order because he himself shares culpability.
“Farage has sat on his hands and desperately tried to deflect over and over again because he’s completely unfit to lead. The more and more the public see the true face of Nigel Farage and Reform UK, the more it becomes clear they’re completely unfit for office.”
In a statement Reform said: “Not all individuals covertly recorded by ITV are members of Reform UK. Where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced. In some cases, there have been suspensions and due process must be followed.
“Reform UK has improved and prioritised its vetting procedures, but from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting. This is the same for all organisations. However good the vetting, one cannot vet a future comment.
“There is no room for racism in Reform UK. We always respect due process of investigations and whilst these are ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.”
The accusations are among those set to feature in 90-minute film Undercover: A Year In Reform, Sunday 18th October at 10.20pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV & STV Player.
