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Watch: Reform UK candidate insists he’s real after claims he was AI-generated
Mark Matlock prompted suspicions he was not real when he did not attend London constituency count on Thursday night
A candidate who stood for Reform UK at the general election has insisted he is real after a digitally-altered image led to accusations that he was AI-generated.
Mark Matlock, the party’s unsuccessful nominee in Clapham and Brixton Hill, south-west London, prompted suspicion that he was not real when he did not turn up to his constituency’s count on Thursday night.
Some of Mr Matlock’s election campaign material subsequently went viral on social media, with users noting that his appearance looked as though it had been modified.
He explained that he did not attend the count because he had pneumonia, and admitted the picture used on his leaflet had been doctored.
He told The Independent that the background of his campaign image had been replaced with the Reform logo, and the colour of his tie had been changed to blue.
After The Guardian reported that Reform was “under pressure” to prove all of its candidates were real, Mr Matlock told GB News: “I’ve spoken to many journalists, and I have to say a lot of them have been truly magnificent, wonderful people that have understood my situation.
“There have been a few who’ve used this opportunity to make headline news – and I call it ‘fake news’. There’s a massive agenda that’s out to get our party, and they’ve used this opportunity to do so. But look, they’re not all bad people – a lot of them have been good people. It is what it is.”
Patrick Christys, the GB News presenter, said: “Mark, I will leave you to rest up. And well done on coming on tonight – I’m glad you’re real. I’m glad we’ve got to see you.” Mr Matlock replied: “I’m pleased I’m real too, thank God.”
Richard Tice, the former Reform leader who is now the party’s chairman, criticised “muppets” in the press and on social media for questioning the authenticity of his candidate.
“He was very ill, trying to get into hospital,’ Mr Tice wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “But Lefties don’t care, just slander folk claiming real people don’t exist. Shameful.”
On Tuesday morning, Mr Matlock claimed doubts about his authenticity amounted to “election interference” and a “complete witch hunt”.
“I hope we have exposed this enough to bring these crooked criminals to light,” he said. “They are bottom feeders, the lowest of the lowest.”
Mr Matlock came fifth in Clapham and Brixton Hill, picking up 1,758 votes. The seat was held by Labour’s Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who was a shadow migration minister under Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader.