Racist remarks scandal puts Solihull Council under scrutiny

Solihull Council is facing calls to investigate the conduct of elected representatives after an undercover ITV investigation revealed racist, Islamophobic and misogynistic remarks by three councillors associated with Reform UK.

The footage, published by ITV News on Wednesday, October 14, included comments by Alan Feeney, who was appointed deputy mayor of Solihull after the May local elections.

Feeney was recorded referring to Asian families as “absolute parasites” and making remarks about removing South Asian people from their homes and sending them to Pakistan.

He also said he would not knock on a door if a resident had an Asian name while campaigning for Reform.

The revelations have raised questions about the standards expected of people elected to represent Solihull’s communities, as well as the action that can be taken when councillors are accused of conduct that falls below those standards.

Calls for council investigation

Liam Byrne, the Labour MP for Hodge Hill and Solihull North, has called on the councillors featured in the investigation to resign.

He said he would report the individuals to the monitoring officers at Solihull and Birmingham councils and seek immediate investigations.

A monitoring officer has responsibility for overseeing legal and ethical standards within a council. Solihull Council also has a formal process for considering complaints about councillors’ conduct.

However, a complaint does not automatically mean that a formal investigation will take place. The council says complaints are assessed against its procedures and that an independent person must be consulted if an allegation is referred for investigation.

It is not yet clear what action, if any, Solihull Council will take following the latest revelations.

Three Solihull councillors featured

The ITV investigation also featured Chris Whelan and Jamie Campbell, who were elected as Reform councillors in May.

Whelan was recorded making sexually aggressive remarks about a female political colleague, as well as using racist language.

He has since left Reform UK, citing personal and health reasons, and said he would continue as an independent councillor.

Feeney also left Reform before the investigation was broadcast, citing personal reasons. He has said he will remain in office as an independent councillor.

Campbell was recorded discussing how pork could be buried at a potential mosque site in Castle Bromwich to obstruct its development.

Reform UK Solihull has condemned the misogynistic and offensive comments attributed to Feeney and Whelan, saying neither man reflects the views of the group.

A spokesperson described Campbell’s remark about the mosque as a joke in poor taste, said he regretted it and confirmed the party would take no further action against him.

What powers does Solihull Council have?

The revelations raise questions about the distinction between a councillor leaving a political party and being removed from elected office.

Leaving Reform does not, by itself, remove Feeney or Whelan from their council seats. Both have said they intend to continue representing their wards as independents.

Solihull Council has a procedure for complaints about councillors, which can be submitted with supporting evidence. The council says allegations are considered under its code of conduct complaint procedure, with the political group leader consulted where relevant.

The council can consider whether a complaint merits investigation, but the process does not mean every allegation will lead to formal action.

The latest revelations therefore leave two separate questions for residents: whether the conduct of the councillors warrants further investigation, and what consequences, if any, could follow under the council’s standards procedures.

Reform responds to ITV findings

Reform UK said it had begun investigations into members, activists and councillors whose behaviour was shown in the investigation. The party also said it had improved its vetting procedures, while acknowledging that some people who did not share its values could still pass through the process.

The full ITV Exposure documentary, Undercover: A Year in Reform, is due to air on Sunday, October 18, at 10.20pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

What happens next will depend on the response from the councillors concerned, any complaints submitted and the decisions taken by the relevant council authorities.

For Solihull residents, the central issue is whether the conduct of elected representatives will be formally examined and what action the established procedures permit.