Reform UK Reports ITV to Police Over Exposé
Party alleges 'psychological warfare' and election law breaches by journalists, while facing fines for campaign material violations.
Carla Rooney
Reform UK has reported ITV to the police.
The controversy ignited after an ITV documentary aired. It revealed Black children described as 'animals,' suggestions for placing asylum seekers in concentration camps, and an area characterized as 'infested' with Asian families.
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's foreign affairs spokesman, confirmed the party's complaint on social media. Yusuf stated, 'We have reported multiple ITV journalists and their board of directors to the police, and will be taking legal action against all of them. Journalists are supposed to report the news. These ones set out to create it.'
Journalists are supposed to report the news. These ones set out to create it.
Yusuf claims an undercover ITV reporter, employed as a Reform press officer, 'doctored' her passport to secure the job. He also claims two undercover reporters joined Reform members campaigning in Portsmouth, alleging it is illegal to pay someone to canvass for a candidate; police reports followed.
Yusuf further claims ITV engaged in 'a form of psychological warfare' designed to demoralize and inject paranoia into Reform UK volunteers, activists, and employees. He asserts journalists breached fraud and election law, directly interfered in elections, and almost certainly altered results by being paid to canvass for Reform UK in crucial wards lost by a few dozen votes.
'We will pursue this through the courts relentlessly,' Yusuf declared. He added, 'I want to be frank about why we feel so strongly: Many Reform staff members and volunteers were psychologically manipulated and damaged by ITV’s undercover reporters.'
Meanwhile, Reform UK itself has faced sanctions from the Electoral Commission, incurring fines exceeding £2,000. These penalties stemmed from failing to declare the party as the publisher of campaign material and for failing to pay a previous fine on time.
The Electoral Commission sanctioned Reform UK after four items of election material lacked an 'imprint.' The fine was eventually paid on 20 October 2026.
Andy Burnham stated at Prime Minister's Questions that Reform UK had not taken enough action to tackle racism within the party following the documentary.