Reform UK makes official complaint against Channel 4 over ‘electoral interference’

Reform UK has made an official complaint against Channel 4 amid a row over footage of one of the party’s canvassers.

Andrew Parker, a part-time actor who lists “secret filming” among his skills, was shown in a Channel 4 News bulletin using a racial slur against Rishi Sunak.

Nigel Farage has said he wanted nothing to do with Reform candidates who have been exposed as racists – but claimed the incident involving Mr Parker was staged, prompting Channel 4 to stand by its reporting.

Adam Richardson, the Reform secretary and a barrister, said he had also made a formal complaint to Essex Police on behalf of Mr Farage.

In his letter to the Electoral Commission, Mr Richardson said it was “entirely evident that Mr Parker was a plant within the Channel 4 News piece”.

“It is wholly unbelievable that by complete coincidence Channel 4 were performing an undercover investigation and by chance were paired up to go canvassing with a man who was pretending to be someone else, using a false voice and saying almost exclusively racist and bigoted remarks.

“The Channel 4 broadcast has clearly been made to harm Reform UK during an election period, and this cannot be described as anything short of election interference.

“It is entirely untrue that Mr Parker had any connection with Mr Farage as he details in the documentary, and has obviously attempted to use this fictional association to smear him in the national media and damage his campaign.”

When told Reform had reported Channel 4 to the Electoral Commission, Mr Parker said: “Good – I’m glad.”

Mr Parker declined to say whether he had been paid by Channel 4 to appear in the footage. The broadcaster denies that any payment was made. “It’ll all come out in the papers,” he told the PA news agency. “What’ll come out is the truth.”

A spokesman for Channel 4 News said: “We strongly stand by our rigorous and duly impartial journalism, which speaks for itself.

“We met Mr Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser. We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Mr Parker was not known to Channel 4 News, and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation.”