Reform describes vetting failures as a handful of individuals
Reform UKPolitical party responding to ITV News
Reform says it improved its checks but a small number of people who do not share its values may still get through. The party says investigations and suspensions have begun and due process must apply.
“from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting.”
Reporting
Other statements by Reform UK in this case
- Reform says it will take no action against two Hounslow councillorsLater: Defended or excused
Where this statement fits
Farage defends Reform's vetting after ITV films racist remarks
ITV News published undercover reporting of racist and sexist remarks by Reform UK councillors and candidates. Nigel Farage defended the party's vetting and disciplinary response. Critics, including Labour chair Bridget Phillipson and ITV political editor Robert Peston, argued that the findings raised questions about leadership and checks on past conduct.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
ITV News publishes findings and excerpts from its undercover investigation, with the party response. Its report describes recorded comments by councillors and candidates across several campaigns.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The statement says investigations have commenced where people behaved inappropriately, that there have been suspensions in some cases and that due process must be followed.
After the quotation
The party says it improved and prioritized vetting and argues that other organizations also have unsuitable people pass their checks.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The party acknowledges vetting failures while reducing their extent to a small number and comparing them with other organizations. This downplays the scale of the failure under scrutiny.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- Nigel Farage, Reform UK
More from this case
Read the full caseFarage says Reform has some bad eggs like any large group
“Wherever you get thousands of people that congregate together, you will get some bad eggs. Do not buy in to the media narrative that somehow there's something uniquely awful about people in Reform. It just isn't true.”Read statement
Jenrick says Reform acted against the individuals at issue
“But the individuals that you’re referring to today were suspended or were asked to resign, and that has happened.”Read statement
HOPE not hate calls the reported failures a leadership choice
HOPE not hate
“This isn’t a few slipping through. It’s a choice. Reform UK must publish the vetting files.”Read statement
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Reform describes vetting failures as a handful of individuals
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/events/5865-reform-says-it-improved-its-checks-but-a
Last updated marks the most recent saved version of this published statement.
The Dispute Index. "Reform describes vetting failures as a handful of individuals". First published: 2026-11-09. Last updated: 2026-11-09. https://disputeindex.com/events/5865-reform-says-it-improved-its-checks-but-a