Portsmouth councillor’s links to controversial patriots group revealed in ITV investigation

Racist slurs, threats of violence and disturbing comments about women feature in an undercover ITV investigation that also examines Portsmouth councillor George Madgwick’s links to the Portsmouth Patriots.

The undercover sting, carried out by ITV, secretly recorded elected Reform UK officials across England and Wales making racist, sexist and violent comments.

The investigation exposed several instances of racism and violent rhetoric. A Solihull councillor was filmed referring to Asian homeowners as “parasites”.

In Bromley, a Reform councillor was filmed describing Black children as “animals” and calling for King Charles III to be decapitated, claiming he was a secret Muslim.

Other male councillors made sexist remarks about female candidates. One said that “if she was my daughter, it would still be bath night on a Thursday”.

Another said he would sexually assault a female candidate if given the chance to hug her.

In response, Reform UK said investigations had begun into individuals who had “clearly behaved inappropriately” and confirmed that suspensions had been made.

The party added that it had “improved and prioritised its vetting procedures”, but acknowledged that “from time to time, a handful of individuals who do not share our values will initially make it through vetting”.

Cllr Madgwick

As part of the undercover ITV investigation, reporters gained access to the private Portsmouth Patriots Facebook group, of which councillor George Madgwick was a member.

Cllr Madgwick is Reform UK’s leader in Hampshire County Council and represents the Paulsgrove ward on Portsmouth City Council.

During the investigation, Cllr Madgwick told undercover reporters that four members of the Patriots group “literally come out flyering with us” during the May 2026 local elections.

When asked whether Reform UK could support the Portsmouth Patriots, he replied: “Yeah, I do.”

He went on to describe his previous relationship with the group: “I was really in with the Patriots, not as in, part of their group, but I supported them and things like that, because they’re always sensible.

“Now, there was instances at their rallies where people did do Nazi salutes. There are rallies where someone did punch a police officer, but it wasn’t the Portsmouth Patriots group. It was people that come in externally, and were d********, basically. They were distraught.”

Madgwick later told ITV that he had never hidden his previous support for the group. He also said he had been blocked by the Portsmouth Patriots Facebook group.

Portsmouth Patriots

The Portsmouth Patriots are an anti-immigration group that spearheaded protests outside the Royal Beach Hotel, which is used to accommodate asylum seekers.

The demonstrations have attracted controversy. At a protest in August 2025, UKIP leader Nick Tenconi made a gesture widely recognised as a Nazi salute. The following September, another attendee made a similar gesture.

In April this year, ITV reporters recorded demonstrators chanting “kill the p****. Burn them out like they do in Northern Ireland. Burn them out of every hotel” during a march in Portsmouth.

Another attendee told reporters that he owned a “Himmler ring” and an “SS ring”. He also encouraged them to watch a Hitler speech in English, saying they would see “how it changes your mind. It blew my mind.”

Madgwick’s response

In a social media post, Cllr Madgwick described the undercover investigation as an “entirely disgusting invasion of personal privacy”, following his decision to invite the two men into his home.

Addressing his association with the Portsmouth Patriots, he said: “I was never a member of the Portsmouth Patriots, as the documentary states, but I have supported their movement over the years from the sidelines.

“The executive team who run them are good people. Yes outside third parties have come in and done some abhorrent things. Those people should be condemned. But the local group themselves are decent, passionate, local residents who care deeply about their community.”

He also provided an image to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he claims identifies two undercover reporters during their visit to Portsmouth.