Jenrick denies Reform is 'chauvinistic' after ITV undercover footage of party members

Centre · 1Robert Jenrick, Reform UK's Treasury spokesman, denied that the party is chauvinistic after fellow Reform MP Sarah Pochin was filmed complaining about its culture in an ITV News undercover investigation. 1 Mixed · 2The ITV investigation, which ran for a year, also found Reform councillors and candidates using racist language; the programme, Undercover: A Year In Reform, is due to be broadcast on Sunday at 10.20pm. 1 2 Mixed · 2The Evening Standard quotes Pochin, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, telling an undercover reporter that the party is "so f***ing chauvinistic" and that "they just exclude you if you’re a woman". The Daily Mirror reports the remarks as made to a female reporter posing as a press officer, with Pochin saying "We so need women press officers" and describing the party's press team as "so chauvinistic". 1 2

Mixed · 2Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Jenrick said "That’s not my experience of Reform", called Pochin a colleague and friend who "can always rely on me", and said he had not seen the party have "problems of that kind". He said he had not been in Reform when Pochin made the comments and that she would need to be asked about them. 1 2 Mixed · 2On the racist remarks, Jenrick said the individuals in question had been suspended or asked to resign, that Reform has more than 2,000 councillors and 280,000 members, and that "all political parties have bad apples". He said Reform has "very strong vetting" and said he did not accept that such behaviour happens more in Reform than in any other party. 1 2 Left · 1According to the Mirror, Jenrick, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform earlier this year, also said the Conservatives have "absolutely no vetting whatsoever by the central party for local councillors". It reports that he repeatedly turned to Labour and the Conservatives, and that presenter Emma Barnett told him that no one was saying other parties had no problems but he was being asked about his own. He denied deflecting and told the presenter, "You're trying to make something where there is nothing." 2

Left · 1The Mirror lists other footage released by ITV: Solihull deputy mayor and Reform councillor Alan Feeney saying his area was "infested" with Asian homeowners; South London councillor Dean Miller saying the King should be beheaded and using a racist slur about Black children; Raymond Dunning saying "I'm so far-right it's unbelievable"; and councillor Chris Whelen making sexual remarks about a female colleague. Later footage showed a Reform aide calling Hampshire and Solent mayoral candidate Dr Chris Parry "clearly a racist", and Nigel Farage was filmed discussing how Parry should apologise and move on. 2 Mixed · 2A Reform spokesperson said not everyone covertly recorded by ITV is a Reform member, that investigations have begun where members behaved inappropriately, and that a handful of people who do not share the party's values "will initially make it through vetting". Reform has insisted there is "no room for racism", and Farage said the investigation was carried out "because the establishment frankly want us out of the picture". 1 2 Left · 1Those named responded individually, according to the Mirror. Miller said he had resigned the party whip, blaming a failure of safeguarding by party leadership and saying he was heavily medicated when filmed. Reform communications director Ed Sumner said nothing in the excerpts showed wrongdoing by him, and Parry told ITV his posts related to reparations and failures by police and government. 2

Left · 1Political opponents have criticised Reform. The Mirror reports that Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Reform must take "immediate and firm action" and that "we’ve allowed a poison into our politics", while Labour chair Bridget Phillipson said the revelations "go right to the top of Reform UK" and that Farage "needs to wake up". 2