Solihull’s Reform UK group is in crisis just over a year after being established. Its councillors have made national headlines after making racist and misogynistic comments to undercover reporters. Alan Feeney, Chris Whelan and Jamie Campbell all resigned before the screening of the ITV documentary ‘Undercover: A Year in Reform’ on October 18.
From Tory defection to Reform UK formation
In June 2025, Alan Feeney, who represents the Castle Bromwich ward on the authority, resigned from the ruling Tory group. He joined a breakaway Solihull Independents group which included Samantha Gethen and Michael Gough. Mr Feeney made a deputation to a council meeting saying oversized home extensions are ripping the guts out of his community.
The following month, Mr Feeney was involved in a major row as he was stripped of being stronger communities and neighbourhood services scrutiny board chairman after quitting the Tories. The fallout included Mr Feeney saying: “I would point out I was offered to retain this chair if I remained a sole independent member - Coun Feeney is not for sale.”
Joining Reform UK and early controversies
In September 2025, in a shock move, Mr Feeney, with fellow councillors Samantha Gethen and Michael Gough, went to Reform UK's conference at the NEC and appeared on a livestream. They announced they had joined the party and formed a new Reform UK group on Solihull Council. Michael Gough was announced as the group’s leader.
In October 2025, the chairman of Solihull’s planning committee, Councillor Bob Grinsell, launched a blistering attack on Mr Feeney for wasting the authority’s “time and money”. The chairman was critical of him for calling in house extensions in his ward but not speaking at meetings. Coun Grinsell said: “There were no objections to it other than Coun Feeney. This quite easily would have been decided on delegated powers. This is the second time – it can’t happen again.”
In response, Mr Feeney told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I will never be convinced that it is a waste of public money to reflect the most significant issue we face in Castle Bromwich.”
Undercover investigation and racist comments
In February 2026, an undercover reporter first met Mr Feeney while canvassing in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Mr Feeney was caught on camera making racist comments for the first time, including saying Muslims should be banned from standing for public office.
In April 2026, while canvassing with Mr Feeney, an undercover reporter met candidate Jamie Campbell. Mr Feeney said his Castle Bromwich ward had been “infested” with Asians, labelling them “absolute parasites”. He also said: “Castle Brom my plan is to make it so bloody hard for them to build their s***** HMOs and stupid extensions that it’s going to be easier to go elsewhere. You win it back the way they won it off us, one house at a time.”
Days later, he was under fire again for wasting the planning committee’s time after calling in house extensions. At the full council meeting later that month, on a motion to crackdown on the growing number of HMOs in the borough, Mr Feeney said: “I have been raising the issue of HMOs, excessive extensions that become HMOs and the way in which these developments hollow out communities - I have been a broken record on this for years. Castle Bromwich is under siege, it is becoming an epidemic. I have been called racist and subject to a code of conduct complaint for daring to speak what others fear to say. Here I am being vindicated at last.”
Election day and aftermath
On polling day in May 2026, an undercover reporter, Mr Feeney and Mr Campbell were joined by fellow candidate Chris Whelan. Throughout the day, the three were all recorded saying racist comments while Mr Whelan made misogynistic comments. Mr Campbell said they should “buy some pork chops” to prevent a mosque being built, and Mr Whelan said of a female candidate: “If she was my daughter, it would still be bath night on a Thursday. I'll wash you properly this time.”
The following day, the Castle Bromwich results were announced with Alan Feeney finishing first, receiving 2,376 votes. He was due to serve the full four year term until 2030, and was also elected as a Birmingham City councillor. Mr Campbell received 2,181 votes finishing second, meaning he was due to serve two years. Mr Whelan received 2,089 votes finishing third and was set to be up for re-election next year.
Overall, Reform UK secured 17 councillors, making them the new official opposition on the council. As Michael Gough had lost his seat, Samantha Gethen became leader with Mr Feeney appointed deputy leader. At the full council meeting later that month, Mr Feeney also became deputy mayor and was set to become the borough’s mayor in 2027.
Positions, defections and the final collapse
In June 2026, Mr Feeney was appointed chairman of the stronger communities scrutiny group once again, and Mr Campbell was appointed resources and delivering value scrutiny board vice chairman. In July 2026, in a shock defection, Councillor David Hoey defected from Reform UK to join the Conservatives. In September 2026, Councillor Eleonora Gough, who is the wife of former councillor Michael Gough, announced she had quit the Reform UK group to become an independent.
In October 2026, Mr Whelan was appointed onto the planning committee making his only appearance on the committee. On October 13, Mr Feeney and Mr Whelan suddenly announced they had quit Reform UK to become independents. ITV News then revealed they were involved in an upcoming documentary with clips released. The Reform UK group initially backed Mr Campbell, who was now the group’s deputy leader.
Mr Feeney, Mr Whelan and Mr Campbell quit as councillors before the screening of the documentary, which would include more shocking footage. Mr Feeney and Mr Campbell issued apologies for their remarks on social media, but all three made no comment to the press including the LDRS. Group leader Samantha Gethen issued a statement saying she was sorry to Castle Bromwich residents for putting trust in the three councillors. Canvassing for the by-elections, expected to be held next month, is now underway.
