Dean Miller, who was elected to Bromley Council in May, was secretly recorded while campaigning in the Makerfield by-election, according to ITV. He says he was heavily medicated at the time.
A Reform UK councillor in south-east London has resigned from the party after an ITV undercover investigation alleged that he made racist remarks, including that King Charles is a Muslim. Dean Miller, who represents Bromley, was recorded while campaigning for Reform in the Makerfield parliamentary by-election, according to the broadcaster. ITV’s Undercover: A Year In Reform airs on Sunday 18 October at 10.20pm on ITV1 and ITVX. Mr Miller is now listed as an independent on Bromley Council’s website.
What Miller allegedly said
According to ITV, Mr Miller claimed London had been “ethnically cleansed” and complained about demographic change in Bromley. He is alleged to have said: “Because you never used to get any blacks over in Bromley, and now Bromley [has] massive Nigerian communities there.”
In a separate exchange, ITV says, he referred to local children involved in vandalism. “Like all the ethnic kids, they’re not white, they’re all black, and they’re like animals,” he is alleged to have said.
ITV also reported that he said: “Apparently King Charles is a Muslim.” It said he went on to suggest the monarch had betrayed the country and made comments about beheading him.
The research notes say ITV’s wider investigation recorded Mr Miller discussing people crossing the Channel illegally, and allegedly suggesting he would personally use lethal violence against them. They also say he was filmed at an August event called Farage Fest, organised to thank activists who helped campaign for Nigel Farage in Clacton, where he allegedly made further derogatory remarks about houses in multiple occupation and immigration. These details come from ITV’s investigation rather than the extract supplied, and I have not been able to verify them. There is no finding that Mr Miller committed any act of violence or criminal offence. His remarks are allegations arising from ITV’s recordings.
Miller’s response
Mr Miller told ITV he had been heavily medicated at the time because of a chronic pain condition. ITV reported that he has since resigned from Reform UK.
His resignation from the party does not remove him from Bromley Council. He can continue as an independent councillor.
His council role
Mr Miller was elected for St Paul’s Cray ward on 7 May 2026 with 1,534 votes, 35.6% of the vote. Reform won all three seats, with Christopher Marlow on 1,588 votes and William Rawles on 1,445. Reform’s Bromley website listed him as serving on the Adult Care and Health Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee, the Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee. His current committee membership should be confirmed with the council, following his change of affiliation.
Reaction from Reform and Labour
A Reform UK spokesperson told ITV: “Where members, activists and councillors have clearly behaved inappropriately, investigations have commenced. In some cases, there have been suspensions and due process must be followed.”
The spokesperson added: “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.” The party stressed that the views expressed did not reflect its values.
Deputy leader Richard Tice questioned aspects of the investigation, suggesting one individual filmed by ITV was a “Tory plant” seeking to make Reform “look bad”. According to the research notes, the party also accuses ITV of using altered identification documents and false credentials, and of an undercover journalist gaining access to party headquarters and computer systems. These are Reform’s allegations, not established findings.
Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson called the allegations “truly sickening” and said Reform must immediately remove any members found to have made racist remarks. “Nigel Farage needs to explain why this keeps happening in his party and why he is failing to deal with blatant racism among those who stand for public office with his backing,” she said.
Other councillors in the investigation
Mr Miller is one of several Reform figures named by ITV. The research notes say that:
- Alan Feeney, a Solihull councillor appointed deputy mayor, was filmed allegedly making racist comments about Asian residents, and has left the party.
- Chris Whelan, also in Solihull, was recorded allegedly making sexually explicit and offensive comments about women, and has also left. Both cited personal reasons, and Mr Whelan also referred to health grounds.
- Jamie Campbell, another Solihull councillor, remains in post.
- Raymond Dunning, a Tameside councillor and aspiring parliamentary candidate, allegedly discussed deporting migrants, including some legally resident, and training young men in military tactics to carry it out. ITV said he had been approached for comment.
- Two Hounslow councillors, David Kerr and Adam Parkins, were recorded discussing how the party is presented to voters, according to ITV. Mr Kerr spoke about making it acceptable to a broader range of voters, and Mr Parkins suggested avoiding public announcements about potentially unpopular actions.
ITV said the programme draws on undercover reporting during local elections and four by-election campaigns across 2025 and 2026. It reported that several party figures discussed ways of concealing controversial views from voters. The recordings show statements attributed to individuals, not proof that any such policy has been adopted.
The Guardian reported on Wednesday evening that Mr Farage had postponed an announcement planned for Thursday morning in Essex as the party prepared for further revelations. It said the investigation is expected to include recordings from inside Reform’s London headquarters. The latest controversy is likely to increase pressure on Mr Farage, who has pledged to professionalise the party and remove extremists from its ranks.
