Reform mocked after Richard Tice calls ITV’s undercover reporting ‘probable criminal activity’

Reform UK has been mocked after the party released a video in which Richard Tice accuses ITV of “probable criminal activity” after Reform HQ inadvertently employed an undercover reporter. 

In the video, the Reform deputy leader accuses ITV and Hardcash Productions of engaging in “probable criminal activity against Reform UK” by “tampering” with passport information and using fake addresses.

The Reform deputy leader said Reform UK employed the undercover reporter between ‘late 2025 and early 2026’. 

Tice claimed that ITV’s reporting was “of course in total breach of Ofcom rules”.

Ofcom sets rules governing secret filming and recording, but it is permitted if it is in the public interest and the information cannot be obtained by other means.

Tice went on to say that Reform is paying “significant sums” for security for Reform MPs and senior figures. 

He added: “This of course becomes a complete waste of time if media groups like ITV think it’s appropriate to break the law, commit criminal offences and lie to circumvent vetting.”

Tice also claimed that ITV had attempted to gain access to in-house security arrangements in order to put Reform politicians “at risk”. 

He did not explain how ITV’s undercover reporting had put party figures “at risk”.

He also claimed ITV had used a “Tory plant” as a “defecting councillor deliberately saying some things to make us look bad.”

Tice added: “And of course if you record hundreds of conversations undercover over a 12 month period, using dozens of people, you’ll find people say some stuff that I wouldn’t say, agree with or condone.

“That’s life, it’s called the real world.”

The Reform deputy leader has now called on Reform MPs, councillors and members to refuse to speak to ITV “until they apologise”.

ITV’s investigation comes after Verbatim and Channel 4 published an investigation into Reform UK last month.

The documentary showed Nigel Farage and senior advisers Dan Jukes and James Orr plotting about how an American donor could give money to the party via his UK-based son and celebrating a series of three polls that the American had paid for. 

Reacting to Reform being caught out by another undercover operation, X user Mr Ethical wrote: “Sounds like ITV have completely destroyed Reform.”

Others suggested the party’s attempts to undermine the investigation were only drawing more attention to it. 

One user wrote: “Richard Tice once again demonstrating that Reform are the inept personification of the Streisand Effect…”.

Another X user, Dave Lawrence, commented: “What this really highlights is not criminality at all (undercover journalism is allowed)

“It highlights that whilst they were being ‘investigated’ by the company working with C4, they were also being investigated by ITV…..

“What it shows is Reform vetting is POOR.”

ITV’s documentary on the undercover operation is expected to be released on 18 October.

Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward