Key Points
- Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is formally reviewing standards complaints following an undercover ITV News probe.
- Secret recordings captured Castle Bromwich ward councillors Alan Feeney, Chris Whelan, and Jamie Campbell making racist, offensive, and sexually explicit remarks.
- Chris Whelan resigned from Solihull Council, while Alan Feeney left Reform UK to serve as an independent councillor.
- Council Leader Karen Grinsell will consult the authority’s monitoring officer about stripping Alan Feeney of his role as Deputy Mayor of Solihull.
- Reform UK said it has tightened vetting procedures and suspended individuals following investigations into misconduct by party members and activists.
Solihull (Birmingham Express) October 17, 2026 – Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has issued an official response after covert audio recorded during an undercover ITV News investigation revealed local elected representatives engaging in offensive, racist, and sexually explicit conduct.
As reported by reporter Reuben Virk of Birmingham Now, the undercover probe by ITV Exposure caught councillors Alan Feeney, Chris Whelan, and Jamie Campbell—who were elected to represent the Castle Bromwich ward—making derogatory remarks during campaigning.
A spokesperson for Solihull Council confirmed: “We have received a resignation from Mr Whelan and will be investigating the complaints made against councillor Feeney”.
The footage and audio recordings, set to air in full on ITV1 and ITVX in the documentary Undercover: A Year in Reform, captured statements made during local political campaigns. In one recorded exchange during canvassing, Councillor Feeney made discriminatory remarks regarding Asian residents. As reported by ITV News Central, Councillor Feeney remarked on camera:
“If it’s an Asian name, I’m not even knocking the door… You need a proper nuclear option. Literally drag them out of their homes, stick them on planes and f*** them off to Pakistan”.
What were the specific details exposed in the undercover report?
Further footage recorded during campaigns captured Councillor Jamie Campbell suggesting measures to prevent a mosque from being constructed in the area.
As documented by ITV News, Councillor Campbell said: “There’s got to be a way of stopping that. Like… go and buy some pork chops. We’ll bury it in the ground”.
The investigation also captured Councillor Chris Whelan making sexually explicit remarks regarding a female political colleague.
Following the disclosure of the undercover footage, political leaders across the borough called for formal investigations and resignations. As reported by Birmingham Now, Liam Byrne, Labour MP for Hodge Hill and Solihull North, publicly condemned the statements, stating:
“The extremist, racist views of these local councillors exposed by ITV News quite simply can have absolutely no place in our public life. The councillors should resign immediately”.
How have party officials and local political leaders responded to the findings?
In response to the political fallout, local council leadership took immediate administrative steps. Solihull Council Leader Karen Grinsell stated that she would consult the council’s monitoring officer regarding removing Councillor Feeney from his ceremonial post as Deputy Mayor of Solihull.
A national spokesperson for Reform UK addressed the findings in an official statement to the press:
“Where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced. In some cases, there have been suspensions and due process must be followed. Reform UK has improved and prioritised its vetting procedures, but from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting. This is the same for all organisations“.
Responding to the allegations publicly, Councillor Jamie Campbell offered an apology regarding his recorded statements, denying any discriminatory intent.
Councillor Campbell stated: “A comment was made that was intended as humour and may, with hindsight, have been in poor taste. If anything I said caused offence, I sincerely apologise. Causing offence was never my intention. However, I categorically reject any suggestion that I am racist or sexist”.
Background of the particular development
The political landscape in Solihull underwent a significant shift during the local elections, when Reform UK secured seats in the Castle Bromwich ward. Castle Bromwich had historically been represented by traditional party structures, but electoral shifts allowed new party representatives to win local office.
The undercover investigation by ITV Exposure spent a year monitoring party operations, candidate vetting, and local campaigning methods across various local council areas.
Standards of conduct for local elected representatives in the United Kingdom are governed by the Localism Act 2011 and local authority Codes of Conduct. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council maintains a formal Code of Conduct overseen by an appointed Monitoring Officer, who evaluates formal complaints regarding member behavior, breach of standards, and public integrity.
Prediction: How this development can affect the local community and governance
This development is likely to have immediate effects on the residents of Castle Bromwich, the operational procedures of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, and the broader political vetting processes of political parties.
For the local electorate in Castle Bromwich, Councillor Whelan’s resignation will require a formal council vacancy process, potentially triggering a local by-election to fill the vacant seat. Community cohesion and trust in local representation may require focused outreach by local authority officers and remaining ward representatives.
For Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, the monitoring officer’s investigation into Councillor Feeney will likely establish precedents regarding standards enforcement and the administrative removal of councillors holding civic offices such as Deputy Mayor.
For local political parties across the United Kingdom, the revelations are expected to result in stricter pre-nomination vetting protocols, increased background screening of candidates, and formalized compliance reviews prior to local and national elections.
