Reform UK MP Hopeful Said Muslims Like Zia Yusuf 'Cannot Be British'

A would-be Reform UK MP told an undercover reporter Muslims could not be British and asylum seekers should be put in “concentration camps”.

The unnamed actvist’s comments were recorded as part of an undercover investigation by ITV that has already seen the party accused of “extreme racism”.

In footage due to be broadcast on Sunday, a Reform activist and aspiring MP described himself as “pretty hardline about Islam”.

He said: “If a Muslim’s prepared to de-convert, I’m happy.

“But if they want to remain faithful to Islam, then this would be, I would have disagreements, especially with, um, I mean, as far as I understand, (Reform home affairs spokesman) Zia Yusuf is a Muslim.

“To me… you cannot be a Muslim and British… it’s like oil and water.”

Discussing asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats, the activist said: “In the first week of election, build concentration camps, and everyone who comes across on the Channel, you’re in there.”

Other footage included a Reform councillor saying the party’s board was “hardline”, adding they held views that would result in their expulsion if expressed publicly.

Excerpts from the investigation released earlier in the week included Reform councillors and candidates referring to black children as “animals” and Asian families as “parasites”.

In a separate clip, a senior Reform official accused Nigel Farage of “protecting” a Reform mayoral candidate who said David Lammy should “go back home to the Caribbean”.

Commenting on the latest revelations, Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson said: “Bad apples don’t fall far from the tree. The sleaze, scandals and appalling revelations of racism and rank misogyny piling up by the day go right to the top of Reform UK.

“Nigel Farage is incapable of taking responsibility and getting his house in order because he himself shares culpability.”

Speaking earlier in the week, Farage suggested those caught by the undercover investigation may have been “provoked”.

He added: “I put it to you, if you went and spoke to hundreds of Conservative councillors and tried to provoke them you would find all sorts of things and all sorts of comments said.”

In a statement to ITV, Reform said: “Reform UK has improved and prioritised its vetting procedures, but from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting.

“This is the same for all organisations. However good the vetting, one cannot vet a future comment.

“There is no room for racism in Reform UK. We always respect due process of investigations and whilst these are ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.”

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