Alan Feeney has stepped down as deputy mayor of Solihull and relinquished his positions as a councillor in both Solihull and Birmingham following the emergence of offensive comments he made during undercover filming.
A Reform UK councillor captured on film describing Asian homeowners as "parasites" has resigned from his council seats and apologised for his statements. According to BBC News, Feeney was recorded making these remarks during an investigation by ITV News in the period leading up to council elections in May. He has since departed the Reform party and acknowledged that his comments "were wrong, offensive and completely unacceptable".
The Ministry of Justice has suspended Feeney from his employment with the prison service, characterising the remarks documented in the investigation as "despicable". In July, his register of interests with Solihull council indicated he held the position of custodial manager, described on the HM Prison and Probation Service website as "the most senior uniformed officers in a prison".
Feeney was among several Reform members featured in the year-long ITV investigation. During campaigning ahead of May's elections, he characterised an area as "infested" with Asian families and referred to them as "absolute parasites". He was additionally recorded stating that no more than 1% of the UK population should be non-white.
This case reflects a broader pattern of scrutiny facing Reform UK over its vetting procedures. The party has faced criticism over candidate screening gaps following the undercover investigation, with a senior councillor subsequently accusing ITV of electoral interference. Earlier this year, Reform UK councillor Glenn Gibbins was suspended amid allegations of racist and misogynistic online posts, prompting party leaders to acknowledge vetting failures.
Party response and apology
On Thursday, Reform UK stated that Feeney had "mutually agreed" to resign from the party. Speaking to the BBC's Today programme on Friday, Reform MP Robert Jenrick stated he "didn't like what I heard in the documentary" but contended that the party had acted swiftly by removing or suspending those featured in the undercover film. He maintained that all parties had "bad apples" and disputed the suggestion that Reform faced a disproportionate problem compared to other political organisations.
In a Facebook statement on Friday, Feeney expressed his desire "to offer my sincere and unreserved apologies for the comments I made in the recording that has recently come to light". He stated that the remarks did "not reflect my true beliefs or opinions, particularly of the communities mentioned in the report". He noted these were communities he had "supported countless times" throughout his career.
Feeney asserted that his true character was demonstrated through more than a decade of public service, though he acknowledged that his achievements "cannot reduce the impact of what has been said". He had switched from the Conservative Party to Reform in the previous year and was elected to the Shard End ward on Birmingham City Council in May.
Party context and investigation outcome
A spokesperson for Reform Solihull noted that Feeney's tenure with the party was brief, with the majority of his time spent as a Conservative councillor, and stated his views did not represent "the views of the group". The Ministry of Justice confirmed that the comments featured in the documentary would undergo investigation with action taken in accordance with its policy.
The ITV investigation also exposed Nigel Farage resisting calls to remove a mayoral candidate accused of racist remarks, alongside widespread racist and misogynistic language among other Reform officials. The broader pattern of disciplinary issues within the party has extended to cases such as Kirklees councillor Dave Rowan, who was suspended over resurfaced 2019 posts before being reinstated with a final written warning.
