Reform reports ITV to police over undercover investigation

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 15:39 · Archive

Reform UK has reported ITV News, its journalists and board to the police following an undercover investigation that exposed racist language by party councillors and candidates. Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs spokesman, announced the party would also launch legal proceedings against multiple ITV journalists and the broadcaster's board of directors.

The ITV investigation featured secret recordings of Reform members using racist language. In one clip, Black children were referred to as 'animals'. In another, a Reform member said his area had become 'infested' with Asian families. A separate excerpt showed a Reform activist saying asylum seekers should be put in concentration camps.

Mr Yusuf said Reform was reporting individual journalists to the police, claiming they had breached fraud and elections law in making the documentary. He said: 'Journalists are supposed to report the news. These ones set out to create it.'

He claimed an undercover ITV reporter who became employed as a Reform press officer had 'doctored' her passport to gain the job. He also said two undercover reporters who joined Reform members campaigning in Portsmouth had been reported to the police, as it is illegal to pay someone to canvass for a candidate.

Reform has also reported ITV's board to the police as the organisation which paid the two reporters. Mr Yusuf said the party would pursue the matter 'through the courts relentlessly' and bring 'civil proceedings' against them.

How it is being reported

• Reform says it has reported ITV to the police over undercover investigationZia Yusuf announced Reform would also launch a legal challenge againstmultiple ITV journalists and the broadcaster’s board.Evening Standard · 21 Oct, 15:25
• Reform reports ITV and journalists to police over undercover racism stingReform staff and volunteers were ‘psychologically manipulated and damaged by ITV’s undercover reporters’The Independent · 21 Oct, 14:13
• Reform says it has reported ITV to the police over undercover investigationZia Yusuf announced Reform would also launch a legal challenge againstmultiple ITV journalists and the broadcaster’s board.Evening Standard · 21 Oct, 13:38
• Reform UK reports ITV and its reporters to the police after undercover stingReform UK have reported ITV News and its undercover reporters to the police over a covert sting targeting the party. Zia Yusuf, Reform’s foreign affairs spokesman, confirmed on social media that his party had made the complaint. “Reform UK has reported ITV, its board, and its undercover reporters to the police,” he wrote. “Some of the crimes carry up to 10 years in prison. They forged a passport. They directly interfered in elections and almost certainly altered the results, being paid to ‘canvass’ for Reform in crucial wards we lost by a few dozen votes,” Mr Yusuf claimed. TRENDING Stories…GB News · 21 Oct, 12:37

In this story: Reform UK · ITV News · Zia Yusuf · Portsmouth · Hounslow

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