Reform UK branch apologises over AI picture of Kent…

The Herne Bay and Sandwich branch of Reform UK faced online criticism after using an AI-generated image to illustrate a local community clean-up effort in the village of Sarre. The party had posted before-and-after photos on social media claiming volunteers participated in Clean Up Britain Day, but the edited imagery quickly triggered suspicion among observers.

What happened

The AI-generated "after" photo featured significant discrepancies that caught the attention of social media users and local officials. The image depicted white fencing that appeared to have gained an extra slat and a footpath that looked as though it had been freshly tarmacked. Observers, including Canterbury City Councillor Mike Sole, noted that while the infrastructure had been altered by the software, elements such as the clouds, shadows, and a parked car remained identical to the "before" image, leading to claims that the party was not being truthful about the extent of the work performed.

While a party member who participated in the actual clean-up on Friday afternoon confirmed that volunteers did spend time trimming foliage and cleaning signs, they expressed confusion as to why the AI image was shared. The branch later issued a statement on Facebook, claiming the image was uploaded due to an administrative oversight by unpaid volunteers. The post clarified that the local page is managed independently of Reform UK headquarters and its official PR team. The original social media post has since been edited, and the branch has apologized for the confusion caused by the incident.