REFORM UK have been accused of using “AI-generated candidates” in the General Election.
The party has been hit by a series of revelations about the online activities of some of its would-be MPs, from links to a British fascist leader to suggestions the UK should have remained neutral in the fight against the Nazis and admiration of Hitler’s “brilliant” ability to inspire action.
But now, there is speculation as to whether some of them even exist, with social media users pointing out that some of their pictures on leaflets appear to be AI-generated.
“We might be on the verge of a HUGE SCANDAL. Suspicions have been raised that Reform have fielded election candidates that aren’t real people. Is there any evidence that Mark Matlock (candidate for Clapham & Brixton Hill) actually exists? He looks AI generated,” said one user (below) in a now viral post.
We might be on the verge of a HUGE SCANDAL. Suspicions have been raised that Reform have fielded election candidates that aren’t real people. Is there any evidence that Mark Matlock (candidate for Clapham & Brixton Hill) actually exists? He looks AI generated. pic.twitter.com/0wJcR4HZXG
— Dr Bella (@Dr_BellaR) July 8, 2024
Private Eye has reported on the case of Matlock – who has almost no digital presence, not unlike many of the party’s candidates.
The magazine managed to track down the 30-year-old, who admitted the image on the flyer was partly AI-generated.
Based in the South Cotswolds, 100 miles from the constituency in which he stood, he said: "I am a real person".
He added, however, that his campaign image was AI-generated because there was no photo of him wearing the Reform’s trademark turquoise tie.
Byline Times, meanwhile, has reported on other elusive Reform candidates.
Council records show that the Reform candidate for Bristol South lives in Gibraltar, for example.
The Reform candidate for Leeds North East as well as Glasgow North have almost no digital footprint either – adding to many others.
The National is looking into a number of Scottish candidates with minimal digital footprint and will provide updates later this week.
