Alan Feeney has resigned from his positions on the Solihull Borough Council and Birmingham City Council following the release of undercover footage by ITV. The recordings, part of an ITV Exposure investigation, documented Feeney using derogatory language regarding Asian homeowners and stating that no more than 1 percent of the UK population should be non-white. Feeney issued a statement on Facebook taking full responsibility for the remarks, which he described as offensive and unacceptable.
The footage was captured during a documentary investigation that followed Reform UK candidates and councillors through local and by-election campaigns in 2025 and 2026. Prior to his resignation, Feeney served as the deputy mayor of Solihull and held seats in the Shard End ward of Birmingham and the Castle Bromwich ward of Solihull. Following the initial report on Wednesday, October 14, Feeney had initially stated he would leave Reform UK for personal reasons while remaining as an independent councillor, but he has now vacated his seats entirely.
In addition to his political resignation, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that Feeney has been suspended from his position with the prison service. Another Reform UK councillor, Chris Whelan, also resigned from the party citing personal and health reasons after the investigation recorded him making a comment regarding a female candidate. Solihull Borough Council stated that it has received Whelan’s resignation and will investigate the complaints made against Feeney, adding that such language does not represent the values of the council.
The scale of the impact involves the administrative cost and logistical planning for two by-elections, the dates of which have not yet been finalized by the respective councils. For the voters in these specific wards, the resignation means they will be without their elected representative until a new vote is held. Reform UK stated that while it has improved its vetting procedures since September 2024, individuals who do not share the party's values sometimes pass through the screening process.
The investigation has also prompted a wider review within Reform UK, which stated that investigations have commenced regarding members and activists featured in the footage. The party noted that some individuals recorded were not members, but confirmed that suspensions would follow due process where inappropriate behavior was identified. The full documentary is scheduled to be screened on Sunday night, October 18, which may lead to further findings regarding the conduct of party candidates during the 2025 and 2026 election cycles.