Reform UK apologises for AI image of cleaned-up fence

Reform UK's Herne Bay and Sandwich branch apologized for posting an AI-generated image of a cleaned-up fence on Facebook, calling it an 'administrative oversight.' The image, which showed inconsistencies like an extra fence slat and resurfaced pavement, was meant to depict a real community cleanup in Sarre, Kent. The incident comes amid scrutiny of Reform UK's finances and leader Nigel Farage's resignation to force a by-election.

A Reform branch has apologised for an ‘administrative oversight’ after an AI-generated picture of road signs was posted on its Facebook https://metro.co.uk/tag/facebook/ page. The party’s Herne Bay and Sandwich wing posted before-and-after photos appearing to show part of a village clean-up. However, the second photo had various inconsistencies with the first – including an extra fence slat. The footpath shown in the photo had also been resurfaced, and the same car was present in both images. A Reform party member said he had taken part in the real ‘Clean Up Britain Day’ initiative in Sarre, a village in Kent between Canterbury and Ramsgate. He said: ‘We spent an hour and a half cleaning and trimming the foliage’. Sign up for all of the latest stories Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get alerts the moment it happens. Breaking News https://metro.co.uk/newsletters/breaking-news?ito=news-article&?signup source=news-article-link He added that he had no involvement with the AI-generated image. ‘It’s gone f nuts,’ he said. ‘A simple job has turned into a political football. ‘I swear it’s only because it is Reform.’ Canterbury City Councillor Mike Sole criticised the Facebook post, calling it ‘a lesson in how not to use AI.’ He pointed out the retarmacked pavement and the unchanged clouds, adding: ‘That’s either super-human work https://metro.co.uk/tag/work/ in the blink of an eye, or Reform are not telling the truth…’ A statement posted on the Herne Bay and Sandwich branch’s Facebook page this afternoon said: ‘The incorrect image previously posted to this Facebook page was selected and uploaded in error due to an administrative oversight. ‘This local Facebook page is managed entirely by unpaid volunteers, independent of Reform UK HQ and its official PR team. While the image used was incorrect, the community cleanup work at the entrance to Sarre village did take place as described. ‘We sincerely apologise for this mistake and for any confusion or misunderstanding it may have caused.’ Yesterday, Reform leader Nigel Farage https://metro.co.uk/tag/nigel-farage/ resigned as MP for Clacton-on-Sea to force a by-election, to run again for his seat and ‘stick two fingers up to the entire establishment’. In a speech broadcast on national TV and later shared on social media https://metro.co.uk/tag/social-media/ , Farage said he would stand to let the people of Clacton decide who they want as their leader. The announcement was made in light of questions surrounding Reform UK’s finances, including undisclosed payments from aristocrat George Cottrell, who has served time in a US https://metro.co.uk/tag/usa/ prison for wire fraud. Farage is accused of breaking parliamentary rules by failing to declare funding from Cottrell in the year before he was elected MP. The Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is also investigating allegations that Farage did not properly declare a ‘gift’ of £5million from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne in 2024. Labour, the Liberal Democrats https://metro.co.uk/tag/liberal-democrats/ , the Green Party https://metro.co.uk/tag/green-party/ and the Conservatives have declined to nominate a candidate for the by-election, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer https://metro.co.uk/tag/sir-keir-starmer/ labelling the move as a ‘desperate stunt’ by a man ‘up to his neck in sleaze’. Count Binface, however, has said he is willing to take on Farage in a proposed by-election. Questions remain as to whether Farage can resign until the commissioner’s investigation is complete.