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A Reform UK election candidate who has faced allegations of being generated by AI has been confirmed as a real man – who has business ties to the Channel Islands, and even been spotted out and about by local residents.
Mark Matlock used airbrushed pictures of himself in campaign materials which have led to people questioning if he is real.
He was reportedly absent from the campaign trail and the vote count itself, which has been explained as being due to a case of pneumonia.
Combined, this all led to the claims he was fake, adding to a wave of speculation that the nascent political party had fielded fake candidates.
Those claims have now been rubbished.
Pictured: Mr Matlock was not present when the above results were read out last week.
Mr Matlock came fifth for Reform UK in the Clapham and Brixton Hill constituency last week.
He lost out to Labour candidate Bell Ribero-Addy.
The Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and the Conservatives also polled higher than Mr Matlock representing Reform.
Pictured: A Companies House listing linking Mr Matlock to Guernsey.
Backing up the confirmation that Mr Matlock is a real person, Guernsey residents have since noted they have met Mr Matlock personally.
The misreporting and social media frenzy was called out by Guernsey businessman Simon de la Rue, who said he had dinner with Mr Matlock in Guernsey nine years ago, and provided photos of him at a St James party.
It's been reported that Reform UK fielded many “paper candidates” in a last-minute rush to ensure the party was on the ballot paper in every constituency, which led to friends, family members, partners, office staff and activists being listed.
There is no minimum requirement for campaigning, the Electoral Commission said.
Interesting how the @BylineTimes and @josiahmortimer are reporting on a phantom Reform candidate Mark Matlock, despite the fact that I had dinner with him 9 years ago in a local restaurant. I personally dislike Reform but no place for inaccuracy. https://t.co/W2sOxG08wd
— Simon de la Rue (@rue_simon ) July 8, 2024
Companies House shows he had an antiques business with a correspondence address in Alderney, with the country of residence listed as Guernsey.
The firm – Trenz Antiques Limited which is now defunct according to records – had a registered office address in Stroud near Gloucester.
Pictured top: The airbrushed image of Mark Matlock used in campaign material which helped fuel allegations he was 'fake'.
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