Ofcom Rules out Probe Into Farage’s Reform UK Channel 4 ‘Plant’ Allegation

Undated handout image courtesy of Channel 4 News of Reform UK activist Andrew Parker who was caught on camera calling Rishi Sunak a racial slur has apologised for his remarks. (Channel 4 News/PA)

Ofcom will not investigate Channel 4 News after Nigel Farage’s Reform UK claimed it used an actor as a “plant” in an undercover investigation into his campaign.

The media regulator said it had received more than 270 complaints about Channel 4 News’ programme titled “Undercover Inside Reform’s Campaign.”

Channel 4 has denied that Andrew Parker, who was filmed during Reform’s general election campaign in the constituency of Clacton and who used a racial slur to describe Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, was paid by or known to the channel.

‘A Plant’

Ofcom said it had urgently assessed the complaint.

“Given the election period, we have urgently assessed them against the due accuracy, due impartiality, and offence rules under the Broadcasting Code,” it said.

“For all of these complaints, we have concluded that they do not raise substantive issues warranting further investigation,” it added.

In a letter to the Electoral Commission, Reform’s party secretary Adam Richardson said that 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.”

Mr. Parker has apologised for the remarks but claimed he was “goaded” into making them. He said he was “glad” that Channel 4 was being reported to the Electoral Commission.

It said that he declined to say whether he had been paid to appear in the footage. “It’ll all come out in the papers, what’ll come out is the truth,” he added.

‘Continue to Refute Any Claims’

A spokesperson for Channel 4 News said: “Since this report aired, Channel 4 News has strongly stood up for its accurate, rigorous and duly impartial reporting, which speaks for itself.

“Ofcom’s decision underscores the integrity of Channel 4 News’s journalism and high editorial standards.

“The programme will continue to refute any claims that we, or the production company we worked with, knew or paid the Reform UK canvasser, Mr. Andrew Parker.

“We met Mr. Parker for the first time at Reform UK’s campaign headquarters in Clacton, and he was filmed secretly via the undercover investigation.”

The Epoch Times contacted Reform for comment.

PA Media contributed to this report.