BBC Faces Backlash as Reform UK Withdraws from Film

Published: 12 November 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Reform UK has announced that it will no longer co-operate with a BBC documentary about the party, following controversy over how a speech by former US President Donald Trump was edited.

The BBC had commissioned October Films to produce the programme, which was scheduled to air in January and was to be presented by Laura Kuenssberg. The documentary, titled The Rise of Reform, had been granted unprecedented access to senior party figures.

An internal email from Reform UK, seen by BBC News, stated that while October Films had conducted itself professionally, party members were advised to decline further participation and to withdraw consent for footage already filmed. The decision follows a Panorama documentary about Trump, in which a speech from 6 January 2021 was edited in a way Reform UK described as “disinformation.”

The controversy arose because the Panorama edit spliced sections of Trump’s speech nearly an hour apart, creating the impression that he explicitly urged people to attack the US Capitol. Trump said in the original speech: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.” The edited version included: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”

The leaked internal BBC memo, written by editorial advisor Michael Prescott, warned that Panorama had distorted the events, raising questions about the broadcaster’s trustworthiness. The fallout from the memo has led to the resignation of BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness. Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion (£760m) unless a full retraction and apology are issued. BBC chair Samir Shah has since apologised for the error in judgment.

Reform UK’s internal email made it clear that October Films had “always conducted themselves professionally,” but following the Panorama controversy, the party felt trust in both the production company and the BBC had been lost. Party figures, including Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran, have rescinded permission for previously filmed footage to be used.

It remains unclear whether the documentary will continue without the party’s cooperation. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between media organisations and political parties over editorial control and accuracy, particularly in sensitive matters involving international political figures.