Alan Feeney, a city councillor representing wards in Birmingham and Solihull, has been suspended from his role as a custody manager at HMP Birmingham in Winson Green, pending a full investigation into racist and misogynistic comments he made while campaigning for Reform earlier this year. The suspension follows an undercover investigation by ITV reporters, which also led to the resignation of a fellow councillor.
Ministry of Justice condemns comments as 'despicable'
The Ministry of Justice, which oversees prisons, described the comments as 'despicable' and confirmed that Feeney has been removed from duty. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: “These despicable comments reported by ITV are entirely at odds with the standards and values we expect of Prison Service staff. This individual is suspended from duty and will be subject to an investigation as racism and misogyny have no place in our prisons or our society.”
The comments recorded by ITV will be investigated under the His Majesty's Prisons Conduct and Discipline process, with “proportionate action” to be taken. The Prison Service has stated that the investigation will be progressed 'quickly', and all staff are expected to meet high standards of professional and personal conduct. The service added: “Any form of racism or misogyny are treated extremely seriously and rooted out. Those who fail to demonstrate and maintain professional standards undermine the excellent work and professionalism of the vast majority of our colleagues. There is now an urgent investigation by the Prison Service into this and we are not going to provide any further comment while that takes place.”
Council procedures may limit action
Meanwhile, Birmingham City Council has indicated that it may not be able to take action under its standards committee guidelines unless it can prove that Feeney made similar comments while serving as a councillor. Solihull Council similarly noted that its procedures are weak in such situations, with lengthy processes required to remove a councillor.
Feeney was filmed by undercover reporters from the ITV Exposure team while canvassing for votes. During the filming, he made a series of offensive remarks. He said of Asian people: 'Drag them out of their homes, stick them on planes and f*** them off to Pakistan.' He also described one area he was canvassing in as having been “infested” with Asian families, calling them “absolute parasites”.
Other councillors implicated in undercover footage
Speaking of Muslims in Britain, Feeney said: “they're in our judiciary, they're in our schools, they're in our healthcare, they're everywhere, and they are not working on our side, they're against us.” He also expressed a belief that “no more than one per cent of British population can be non-white”.
The ITV investigation also recorded fellow Solihull Reform councillor Chris Whelan making sexually aggressive comments about a fellow Reform candidate. In one conversation with Feeney, Whelan said: “If she was my daughter, it would still be bath night on a Thursday. I'll wash you properly this time.” Feeney responded: "That's reminded me, I need to buy an orange in a sock." Whelan also discussed another female Reform candidate in Birmingham, saying he “would have been sniffing that seat as soon as she got up." Whelan has since announced his resignation as a councillor.
A third councillor, Jamie Campbell, was also heard making racist comments in the footage. Feeney did not respond to repeated requests for comment following the ITV broadcast, and the investigation by the Prison Service is ongoing.
