Councillor Alan Feeney resigns Reform UK and council seats after secret filming

Mixed · 2Alan Feeney has resigned from Solihull Council and Birmingham City Council and has left Reform UK, after undercover ITV News filming captured him calling Asian homeowners "parasites". 1 2 Mixed · 2The footage came from an ITV News investigation, gathered over about a year, that featured several Reform members. Feeney was recorded while campaigning before the May council elections. 1 2 Centre · 1In the footage he described an area as "infested" with Asian families, called them "absolute parasites", and said no more than 1% of the UK population should be non-white. 1

Mixed · 2In a Facebook post on Friday 16 October, Feeney said: "There is no excuse for my comments." He said he had resigned every post he held on both councils, called his remarks "wrong, offensive and completely unacceptable", and said he took full responsibility. 2 1 Left · 1He also said the comments did not reflect his true beliefs, particularly about communities he said he had supported for many years. He added that he would undertake "intensive personal analysis" of how such sentiments took root. 2 Mixed · 2The reports differ on how he left Reform. The BBC says the party told it Feeney had "mutually agreed" to resign from the party. The Guardian says he announced on Facebook that he was leaving for "personal reasons" and kept his seats as an independent before resigning them. 1 2

Mixed · 2Feeney won the Shard End ward on Birmingham City Council in May. The Guardian adds that he also won Castle Bromwich on Solihull council and was appointed deputy mayor of Solihull. The BBC says he defected from the Conservatives to Reform last year. 2 1 Left · 1The Guardian reports that Jamie Campbell and Chris Whelan, two other Reform candidates filmed making racist remarks who later became councillors, have also resigned. 2 Centre · 1Feeney has also been suspended from his job with the prison service, where he was recorded as a custodial manager. The Ministry of Justice called the comments "despicable" and said they would be investigated, with action taken in line with its policy. 1

Centre · 1Reform MP Robert Jenrick told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he "didn't like what I heard" but said the party had acted quickly. He added that all parties have "bad apples" and denied Reform had a bigger problem than others. A Reform Solihull spokesperson said Feeney was briefly with the party and did not reflect "the views of the group". 1 Mixed · 2The Guardian notes that Nigel Farage has pledged to rid Reform of "extremists" and "bigots" and that the party says it vets everyone who wants to stand. BBC headlines linked to the article refer to questions over Reform's candidate vetting. By-elections will follow on timescales set by the councils. 2 1