Reform councillor accuses ITV of electoral interference

A Reform councillor has accused ITV of "electoral interference" after undercover reporters joined the party's campaign ahead of council elections in Portsmouth. BBC

George Madgwick, Reform's leader in Hampshire, said two reporters campaigned with the party in the city in March and April. He said they worked in four seats, three of which Reform narrowly lost, and claimed their involvement would have had an impact on the result.

Mr Madgwick was filmed voicing support for the Portsmouth Patriots, an anti-immigration group. He denied being a member but said he had supported their movement over the years from the sidelines.

A further report broadcast on Thursday included footage in which Mr Madgwick admitted the Portsmouth Patriots were actively helping Reform campaign before the council elections.

ITV News denied the accusation of electoral interference. It said the programme, Undercover: A Year In Reform, was produced in compliance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and its broadcast is in the public interest.

ITV said it had reporters undercover with Reform candidates and councillors across England and Wales in the run-up to the May elections and four by-election campaigns this year and last.

The 90-minute documentary, made for ITV News by Hardcash Productions, was due to be broadcast on Sunday on ITV1 and ITVX.

The Liberal Democrats took control of Portsmouth council following the elections earlier this year with 22 seats, with Reform as the second-biggest party on 12 seats.

The documentary follows an ITV Exposure investigation which found elected Reform councillors and candidates expressing extreme racist views and language. ITV News Nigel Farage suggested those filmed had been provoked, while there were calls for councillors to resign. ITV News Reform officials later admitted they "defend the indefensible" amid racism claims. ITV News