Reform councillor Alan Feeney resigns after being filmed calling Asian families parasites
The story
Alan Feeney, a Reform UK councillor in the West Midlands, has resigned from both Solihull Council and Birmingham City Council after undercover filming caught him making racist comments about Asian homeowners. He has also stepped down as deputy mayor of Solihull.
The footage was gathered for an ITV News investigation that followed Reform members for about a year, including while they campaigned ahead of the council elections in May. In it, Feeney described one area as "infested" with Asian families and called them "parasites". He was also recorded saying that people who are not white should make up no more than 1% of the UK population.
Feeney apologised on Facebook on Friday. He said his remarks were wrong, offensive and completely unacceptable, and that they did not reflect his real beliefs or his view of communities he had supported for years. He has also left Reform, which he joined last year after defecting from the Conservatives. The party said his exit was mutually agreed.
The fallout has reached his day job. Feeney works for the prison service as a custodial manager and has been suspended. The Ministry of Justice called the comments despicable and said they would be investigated.
Two other Reform councillors in Solihull, Jamie Campbell and Chris Whelan, were also filmed. Samantha Gethen, who leads Reform in opposition on Solihull Council, said all three have now resigned and called it the right thing to do, so voters in those wards will get fresh elections. Reform MP Robert Jenrick said he did not like what he heard, but argued the party acted quickly and that every party has its bad apples.
