Channel 4 sparks Ofcom complaints after 'biased' Reform investigation sparked fury

Channel 4 News has been hit with dozens of Ofcom complaints linked to a Reform Party campaigner allegedly being an actor who was "hired" by the channel.

The channel received a total of 266 complaints for a Channel 4 News instalment which aired on June 27 in the run-up to the 2024 General Election on Thursday, July 4.

Ofcom confirmed with Express.co.uk this morning (Wednesday, July 3) the complaints related to an undercover investigation into Reform Party campaigners.

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A spokesperson for the television watchdog commented: "The complaints related to an undercover investigation about Reform party campaigners, with complainants alleging bias and that one of the alleged Reform canvassers featured was actually an actor hired by Channel 4 to discredit the campaign."

It comes after Reform UK reported Channel 4 to the elections watchdog and Essex Police over "scandalous election interference" after the broadcaster recorded an alleged campaigner spewing homophobic and racist comments in Clacton, Essex.

Channel 4 News has been slapped with Ofcom complaints (Image: Getty)

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The Party's leader, Nigel Farage, accused the canvasser caught making the remarks in a Channel 4 sting of being "an act from the very beginning". He went on to brand the entire episode of the news programme a "set-up".

Speaking to GB News viewers on June 29, Farage said: "You'll have seen the news - a massive Reform campaigner uses racist slurs against the Prime Minister and a large chunk of the population. Isn't it terrible?"

Farage claimed: "Facts - he is an actor even though he denied it when he was questioned over it first thing this morning."

Nigel Farage is Reform UK's leader who hopes to win the election (Image: Getty)

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He claimed: “An activist for a party, not a candidate, who holds no position whatsoever, makes the front page of the Times newspaper.

“The Prime Minister responds by saying how awful he feels for his two daughters about these racist remarks that were made about his family. Folks, this is the biggest stitch-up I have ever seen in my life.”

Party Secretary Adam Richardson made a formal complaint to Essex Police on Farage's behalf accusing the activist, named Andrew Parker, of making false statements about a candidate during an election campaign.

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A spokesperson for Channel 4 said in a statement: “We met Andrew Parker for the first time at Reform UK party headquarters, where he was a Reform party canvasser.

“We did not pay the Reform UK canvasser or anyone else in this report. Parker was not known to Channel 4 News and was filmed covertly via the undercover operation.”

Channel 4 has been contacted for further comment by Express.co.uk.

Channel 4 sparks Ofcom complaints after 'biased' Reform investigation sparked fury

Channel 4 sparks Ofcom complaints after 'biased' Reform investigation sparked fury

Channel 4 sparks Ofcom complaints after 'biased' Reform investigation sparked fury

Channel 4 sparks Ofcom complaints after 'biased' Reform investigation sparked fury

Channel 4 sparks Ofcom complaints after 'biased' Reform investigation sparked fury