Jenrick likens Reform racism scandal to BBC paedophile cover-ups as vetting philosophy exposed as 'are they 'a f***ing lunatic'?'

Robert Jenrick, Reform's Treasury spokesman, drew a parallel between the party's inability to weed out racist and sexist councillors and the BBC's historical scandals involving paedophile presenters, arguing that no organisation can guarantee a "fool-safe" vetting process. His defence came as a second round of ITV footage laid bare Reform's approach to candidate selection, with a staff member acknowledging that applicants were judged on whether "are they a f***ing lunatic?" and likely to generate damaging headlines. One Tommy Robinson supporter was turned down by vetting on two separate occasions yet was still permitted to contest an election he came close to winning.

Alan Feeney, Solihull deputy mayor and custodial manager at HMP Birmingham, has been suspended from his prison service job after the Ministry of Justice called his remarks "despicable".

Reform MP Sarah Pochin was reportedly secretly filmed saying the party "excludes you if you're a woman" and is run by "alpha male s***", while Farage was reportedly told by an official he was "protecting" a racist candidate.

Jenrick also lashed out at ITV on Radio 4, accusing it of "lying, faking documents, spending millions of pounds" in a bid to catch Farage himself behaving badly.