Bromley Councillor Resigns from Reform UK After Alleged Racist Remarks

Bromley councillor Dean Miller has resigned from the Reform UK party following allegations of making racist remarks about black children and King Charles. The claims emerged from an undercover investigation by ITV, titled Undercover - A Year In Reform.

The investigation, which is due to air on Sunday, reportedly recorded Miller making a series of remarks while campaigning for the party. According to ITV, Miller allegedly claimed London had been "ethnically cleansed" and expressed concern about demographic changes in his home borough of Bromley.

He was reportedly quoted as saying, "Because you never used to get any blacks over in Bromley, and now Bromley [has] massive Nigerian communities there." In a separate exchange concerning vandalism, Miller allegedly referred to local children as "like all the ethnic kids, they're not white, they're all black, and they're like animals."

Comments on King Charles

The councillor was also allegedly recorded making comments about King Charles. According to ITV, Miller said, "Apparently King Charles is a Muslim," before reportedly suggesting the monarch had betrayed the country and making remarks about beheading him.

These remarks were among a series of alleged racist, sexist, and inflammatory comments made by Reform councillors and candidates across England and Wales during the ITV investigation. Miller, who was elected as a Reform councillor in May, told ITV that he had been heavily medicated at the time due to a chronic pain condition. He is currently listed as an independent councillor on Bromley Council's website.

Reform UK Response

A spokesperson for Reform UK stated that investigations have commenced into individuals featured in the programme. The party stressed that the views expressed do not reflect its values. "Where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced," the spokesperson told ITV. "In some cases, there have been suspensions and due process must be followed."

The party added that it has improved and prioritised its vetting procedures, but acknowledged that "a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting."

The revelations have led to renewed scrutiny of Reform UK's vetting processes. Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson described the allegations as "truly sickening" and called for Reform UK to remove any members found to have made racist remarks.