Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, has come under fire after posting an image on social media that experts say shows clear signs of artificial intelligence manipulation. The picture, shared on X on Sunday, appeared to show a group of supporters holding placards in Birmingham, with Tice praising their resilience. However, a closer examination revealed anomalies such as extra fingers, smeared faces, and distorted text on signs.
Digital intelligence company Peryton Intelligence analysed the image and concluded it was almost certainly generated or altered using AI. Among the telltale signs were a woman with six fingers on her right hand, a man not gripping his sign properly, and signs that blur the slogan 'Get Starmer Out'. The company noted peculiar pixel patterns and suspiciously straight vertical lines in the background.
Reform UK defended the image, stating that the campaigners were real and that the photo had only been slightly edited using AI to increase brightness. However, critics, including Green Party leader Zack Polanski, accused the party of faking support. Polanski said: 'There’s nothing real about the Reform party. Their supposed policies for working people are fake, they spin stories that are fake and now we know even their campaigners are fake.'
Tice insisted the photograph was taken in Erdington, Birmingham, and highlighted what he described as a surge in support since 2022. He predicted that Reform could elect councillors and even a member of parliament in the area. This incident is not the first time Reform politicians have faced scrutiny over AI use, with former candidate Matt Goodwin having been dubbed 'MattGPT' after allegedly using AI to write his book.
