Reform UK Fined for Campaign Breaches and Sues ITV
Reform UK paid a fine for campaign imprint failures while launching legal action against ITV following an undercover investigation into racist remarks.
The Electoral Commission fined Reform UK £2,187 for failing to include required imprints on four pieces of campaign material. The penalty, originally £1,750, increased after the party missed a September 23 payment deadline. The total amount was paid on October 20, 2026. This sanction follows a separate complaint regarding a byelection in Gorton and Denton, where the party allegedly used letters designed to appear as though they were written by local residents.
Simultaneously, Reform UK has reported ITV and several of its journalists to the police and announced a legal challenge against the broadcaster. The dispute follows an ITV undercover investigation that aired footage of party members and candidates using racist language, including referring to black children as "animals."
Reform UK spokesperson Zia Yusuf alleged that an undercover reporter doctored a passport to gain employment and that others were paid illegally to canvass. ITV has defended its reporting, stating the program was produced in compliance with the Ofcom broadcasting code and served the public interest.
