Solihull's Reform 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.

This is the timeline of some of the key events:

June 2025

Alan Feeney, who represents the Castle Bromwich ward on the authority, resigns from the ruling Tory group.

He joins a breakaway Solihull Independents group which includes Samantha Gethen and Michael Gough.

Mr Feeney makes a deputation to a council meeting saying oversized home extensions are ripping the guts out of his community.

July 2025

Mr Feeney is involved in a major row as he is stripped of being stronger communities and neighbourhood services scrutiny board chairman after quitting the Tories.

The fallout includes Mr Feeney saying: "I would point out I was offered to retain this chair if I remained a sole independent member – Cllr Feeney is not for sale."

September 2025

In a shock move Mr Feeney, with fellow councillors Samantha Gethen and Michael Gough, go to Reform UK's conference at the NEC and appear on a livestream.

They announce they have joined the party and formed a new Reform UK group on Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. Michael Gough is announced as the group's leader.

October 2025

The chairman of Solihull's planning committee, Cllr Bob Grinsell, launches a blistering attack on Mr Feeney for wasting the authority's "time and money".

The chairman is critical of him for calling in house extensions in his ward but not speaking at meetings. Cllr Grinsell said: "There were no objections to it other than Cllr 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 tells 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."

February 2026

An undercover reporter first meets Mr Feeney while canvassing in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

Mr Feeney is caught on camera making racist comments for the first time including saying Muslims should be banned from standing for public office.

April 2026

While canvassing with Mr Feeney an undercover reporter meets candidate Jamie Campbell.

Mr Feeney says his Castle Bromwich ward has been "infested" with Asians, labelling them "absolute parasites".

And he says: "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 is 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 says: "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."

May 2026

On polling day an undercover reporter, Mr Feeney and Mr Campbell are joined by fellow candidate Chris Whelan.

Throughout the day the three are all recorded saying racist comments while Mr Whelan makes misogynistic comments.

Mr Campbell says they should "buy some pork chops" to prevent a mosque being built and Mr Whelan says 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 are announced with Alan Feeney finishing first, receiving 2,376 votes. He is due to serve the full four year term until 2030.

He is also elected as a Birmingham City councillor.

Mr Campbell receives 2,181 votes finishing second, meaning he is due to serve two years.

And Mr Whelan receives 2,089 votes finishing third and is set to be up for re-election next year.

Overall Reform UK secures 17 councillors making them the new official opposition on the council. As Michael Gough has lost his seat Samantha Gethen becomes leader with Mr Feeney appointed deputy leader.

At the full council meeting later that month Mr Feeney also becomes deputy mayor and is set to become the borough's mayor in 2027.

June 2026

Mr Feeney is appointed chairman of the stronger communities scrutiny group once again.

Mr Campbell is appointed resources and delivering value scrutiny board vice chairman.

July 2026

In a shock defection, Cllr David Hoey defects from Reform UK to join the Conservatives.

September 2026

Cllr Eleonora Gough, who is the wife of former councillor Michael Gough, announces she has quit the Reform UK group to become an independent.

October 2026

Mr Whelan is appointed onto the planning committee making his only appearance on the committee.

On October 13 Mr Feeney and Mr Whelan suddenly announce they have quit Reform UK to become independents. ITV News then reveals they are involved in an upcoming documentary with clips released.

The Reform UK group initially back Mr Campbell, who is 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 issue apologies for their remarks on social media but all three make no comment to the press including the LDRS.

Group leader Samantha Gethen issues a statement saying she is sorry to Castle Bromwich residents for putting trust in the three councillors.

Canvassing for the by-elections, expected to be held next month, gets underway.