Portsmouth councillor accuses ITV of electoral interference over undercover footage

In Portsmouth, a Reform councillor accused ITV of electoral interference after undercover reporters infiltrated the party’s campaign for the May council election. The accusation follows the airing of ITV News Exposure’s 90‑minute documentary “Undercover: A Year In Reform,” which began broadcasting Sunday on ITV1 and ITVX. The programme followed reporters inside Reform UK for a year, capturing footage of councillors and candidates using racist, sexist and violent language.

The investigation comes amid growing scrutiny of Reform UK’s vetting process. Two years after party leader Nigel Farage pledged to remove “bad apples,” the documentary shows Reform councillors and candidates across England and Wales engaging in extremist rhetoric. In Portsmouth, the footage includes Reform’s Hampshire leader George Madgwick praising the anti‑immigration group Portsmouth Patriots and admitting the group helped the party’s campaign. The documentary also shows undercover reporters campaigning with Reform in March and April, a period that included four by‑elections.

Madgwick, who is not a member of the Patriots, said the reporters “infiltrated” his household, met his dogs and “shocked and disgusted” him. He claimed the reporters’ presence could have affected the election outcome, noting that three of the four seats they campaigned in were lost by a narrow margin. He said the reporters might have distributed flyers and door‑knocking information that could have influenced voters. ITV denied any interference, stating the programme was produced within the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and served the public interest.

The Liberal Democrats now control the Portsmouth council with 22 seats, while Reform holds 12. Reform’s claims of interference raise questions about the legality of the reporters’ actions and the integrity of the election. The party is preparing to challenge the documentary’s claims, while ITV is ready to defend its compliance with broadcasting regulations. The outcome could influence future media investigations of political parties and the limits of journalistic intrusion.