Key Points
- Councilor Raymond Dunning from Ashton Waterloo has quit from the Reform UK group of Tameside Council following his remarks captured during the undercover investigation conducted by ITV.
- According to Gary Carter of the Tameside Correspondent, Cllr Dunning has apologized for the statements made by him in what he says was a private social meeting.
- ITV News said Cllr Dunning was recorded making comments about the deportation of migrants, both illegal and legal, as well as saying something about training young men on insurgency tactics.
- Manchester Evening News said Cllr Dunning allegedly described himself as “far right” and said the politicians who opposed him “should be shot against the wall”.
- Cllr Dunning has now identified himself as an independent councilor, reported by Manchester Evening News.
- According to Reform UK, the investigations have been initiated where members, activists or councillors have “clearly behaved inappropriately” in which case some suspensions have taken place.
- According to ITV, Nigel Farage, who is the former leader of UKIP, has told that some councillors have been provoked and that the party can not “vet people for what they say in the future”.
Ashton-under-Lyne (Manchester Mirror) October 16, 2026 — A Tameside councillor has resigned from the borough’s Reform UK group after secretly recorded comments about migrants and political opponents were exposed in an ITV undercover investigation. Raymond Dunning, who represents Ashton Waterloo, has apologised for his language while remaining a councillor, according to reports by the Tameside Correspondent and the Manchester Evening News.
As reported by Gary Carter of the Tameside Correspondent, Cllr Dunning was recorded during campaigning for the recent Makerfield by-election. The publication reported that he was asked what he would like a Reform government to do and responded with remarks about deporting people he said did not deserve to remain in the country.
The Tameside Correspondent quoted Cllr Dunning as saying:
“So first of all, I’d deport every other motherf** in this country that doesn’t deserve to be here and their children as well.” It further quoted him as saying: “First thing, you’re f** gone, bang. And then I’ll pick up the pieces after that.”
When an undercover reporter asked whether this would include legal migrants, ITV News reported that Cllr Dunning replied: “Even the legal ones.” ITV quoted him as saying that “there’s nothing wrong with legal immigration as long as it’s done right”, but that certain people granted permission to stay in the country should not have been allowed to remain.
ITV News also reported that Cllr Dunning said:
“18-30 year old young lads, train them up in the army in insurgency tactics, so they can go street-by-street, house-by-house picking the c**** up.”
What Did Raymond Dunning Say?
The ITV investigation obtained covert footage of Reform UK councillors and candidates across England and Wales during the May local elections and four by-election campaigns in 2025 and 2026. ITV reported that the recordings included violent, racist and sexist language from elected Reform officials.
In Cllr Dunning’s case, ITV reported that he described himself as “so far-right, it’s unbelievable”. The broadcaster reported that he also complained that colleagues were being “schmoozed” by Labour councillors and independents, before saying: “They should be shot against the wall.”
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the remarks surfaced on the evening of October 14. The newspaper reported that Cllr Dunning was under scrutiny by Reform UK following the comments and later resigned from the party.
The Tameside Correspondent reported that Cllr Dunning was absent from Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee on Wednesday, October 14. It added that speculation grew that he had left the Reform UK group the previous Saturday, before the group leader confirmed his resignation.
Why Did Cllr Dunning Resign?
Cllr Dunning resigned from Tameside Council’s Reform UK group after the recordings emerged. The Manchester Evening News reported that he now identifies as an independent councillor on Tameside Council.
The Tameside Correspondent reported that Cllr Dunning issued an apology addressing residents of Waterloo Ward, his former colleagues and people affected by the ITV News story. In the statement, he said: “First and foremost, I am deeply sorry.”
He said the comments were made during a private social gathering, where he was unaware that an undercover journalist was secretly recording the conversation. However, he accepted that being in a private setting did not excuse the language he used.
As quoted by the Tameside Correspondent, Cllr Dunning said:
“Looking back, I genuinely wish I had expressed my views in a more thoughtful, respectful and appropriate way. I cannot change the words I spoke, but I can acknowledge them, learn from them and sincerely apologise for the hurt and offence they may have caused.”
He added that he remained passionate about his political beliefs but recognised that strongly held opinions should be expressed “with dignity and respect”. He also said he was disappointed in himself for allowing his choice of words to overshadow the work he had tried to do for the people he represents.
The Tameside Correspondent quoted his apology as saying:
“To those I have offended, to my former colleagues, and particularly to the people who placed their trust in me, I offer my heartfelt and unreserved apology.”
What Has Reform UK Said?
Reform UK told ITV News that investigations had commenced where members, activists and councillors had “clearly behaved inappropriately”. The party said that, in some cases, suspensions had taken place and due process must be followed.
In a statement reported by ITV, Reform UK said: “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 also criticised ITV’s methods. As reported by The Independent, Reform UK said ITV and producers Hardcash Productions had used “extreme methods of deception”, alleging that an undercover journalist had been commissioned to use altered identification documents, a false address and false credentials to access Reform’s headquarters and computer systems.
ITV reported that Nigel Farage suggested Reform UK councillors filmed expressing racist, Islamophobic and sexist views may have been provoked. He also said the party could not “vet people for what they say in the future”.
What Happens Next For Cllr Dunning?
The Tameside Correspondent reported that it approached Cllr Allan Hopwood, Reform UK group leader on Tameside Council, and Robert Barrowcliffe, Reform UK Tameside’s interim chairman, for comment about Cllr Dunning’s situation.
The Manchester Evening News reported that a council standards investigation into Cllr Dunning’s conduct would be initiated. The newspaper attributed that announcement to a council representative, though its report did not name the individual in the material available.
The Tameside Correspondent subsequently reported on October 16 that Cllr Dunning is believed to have been reported to police over the undercover comments. The report did not state that any criminal allegation had been formally established or that an arrest had taken place.
Cllr Dunning remains an elected councillor for Ashton Waterloo, although he is no longer part of Tameside Council’s Reform UK group. The Manchester Evening News reported that he now sits as an independent.
Background Of The Development
The comments were recorded during ITV’s undercover investigation into Reform UK, titled Undercover: A Year In Reform. ITV reported that reporters went undercover with Reform UK candidates and councillors across England and Wales during the May local elections and four by-election campaigns in 2025 and 2026.
ITV reported that the investigation obtained secretly recorded footage of elected Reform officials using violent, racist and sexist language. The broadcaster said the footage included references to Muslims as “parasites” and descriptions of black children as “animals”.
The Manchester Evening News reported that the programme was due to air on Sunday and that the party had faced accusations of “extreme racism” after several councillors were recorded making inappropriate comments.
ITV also reported that other councillors featured in the investigation had resigned from Reform UK. It said John Feeney said he had “mutually agreed” to resign, citing personal reasons, while Chris Whelan resigned for personal and health reasons; both were reported to be continuing as independent councillors.
Cllr Dunning was elected to Tameside Council in May, according to a report carried by Head Topics citing coverage of the ITV investigation. ITV reported that he had claimed to have been asked by Reform UK to stand as a parliamentary candidate.
Prediction: How This Affects Tameside Residents
For Ashton Waterloo residents, the immediate effect is likely to be uncertainty over local representation. Cllr Dunning remains an independent councillor, but his departure from the Reform UK group may change how he participates in council business, group negotiations and committee work.
The reported standards investigation could determine whether his conduct breached the council’s code of conduct. If Tameside Council proceeds, residents may see a formal process examining the comments and any consequences for his role as an elected representative.
The police report referred to by the Tameside Correspondent could add a separate dimension, although no formal police action was confirmed in the available reporting. Any investigation would need to establish whether the recorded remarks met a criminal threshold.
For Reform UK locally, the resignation may increase pressure on the party’s vetting and disciplinary procedures. Nationally, ITV reported that Reform UK acknowledged that investigations and suspensions had begun, while defending its vetting improvements and criticising ITV’s undercover methods.
For voters, the development is likely to sharpen attention on candidate selection, councillor conduct and the distinction between party membership and independent representation. The outcome of any council standards process, police assessment and ITV broadcast may shape public confidence in local representation in Ashton Waterloo and Tameside more widely.
