{
  "id": 14820923,
  "title": "Reform faces questions over candidate vetting after undercover filming",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/reform-faces-questions-over-candidate-vetting-after-undercover-filming",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T23:52:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqm26yr42ezko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Reform UK faces scrutiny over its candidate vetting process, following undercover filming by ITV News. The investigation, conducted over a year, reveals the party's guidelines for candidates, including the advice to delete social media posts supporting far-right activist Tommy Robinson. The undercover reporter was encouraged by a local party chairman to apply for a councillor position after being advised to delete such posts. However, a former Reform candidate, Alex Lomas, claims he failed the vetting process twice, despite sharing social media content from Robinson. Reform denies these allegations but acknowledges that occasional candidates with differing values might pass vetting. The party also faces criticism for allowing councillor Dr. Chris Parry, who made racist remarks, to remain in the party, pending an investigation. Farage denies allegations of protecting Parry and defends the vetting process as more rigorous than others. However, the party's track record of vetting candidates continues to be questioned.",
  "summary": "Reform UK says the party has \"improved and prioritised its vetting procedures\".",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}