Did anyone else spot this about Reform?

Apparently the candidate for Bristol South is real - they live in Gibraltar 😂

It was Byline Tomes who first raised this, and shame on the Guardian for not crediting them.

bylinetimes.com/2024/07/03/reform-uks-invisible-candidates-who-are-they-hiding/

But it would be a serious electoral offence if true about even one of their candidates.

It does really sound as if boundaries were crossed in the rush to get the numbers there.

Yes.
Shocking.
I found it in another news outlet too but heard nothing about it on the radio (for example)

This is the other article I found.
www.thenational.scot/news/24438729.reform-uk-accused-using-ai-generated-candidates-election/

Yes, I saw it on Twitter/X

Our local candidate (for whom I unashamedly voted) is definitely a real person. I looked him up online.

I wonder what would have happened if an AI "fake" had actually won?

I looked up our local candidate and he was real - not that I had any intention of voting for him.

When all the election leaflets came through the door I noticed that Reform one was the only one with no details at all about the candidate, just his name. It did make me wonder what they didn't want us to know.

I think it might have been down to a lack of funds that all the leaflets simply mentioned the name of the local candidate - hence I googled the name out of curiosity.

I don't remember my local candidate
- but now I will look him up.

So those people who voted for a non existent person - what happens?

There must be something in law to take Reform to court surely?

Apparently Farage didn’t turn up as his first day as an MP -

Of course he didn’t.

Apparently they had someone standing in York who was dead! They realised this when they sacked him for 'inactivity'.

Clearly the selection process is none too rigorous.

The one in my area has no information online. No picture or information on the 'your local candidates' website, nothing googleable - just nothing at all. I did try to find out what all the candidates had to say before the election, as we are a new constituency since the boundary changes. Everyone else had details, including the barmier independents, but nothing from Reform. They got a couple of thousand votes😲

Whitewavemark2

Apparently Farage didn’t turn up as his first day as an MP -

Of course he didn’t.

Tee hee. I hope he knows the Parliamentary Oaths Act 1866 or rather, I hope he doesn't.

A Reform source said: “All our candidates are categorically real. Given the rush, a few are just paper candidates and didn’t campaign. Some people began as paper candidates but then did campaign, and one of these – James McMurdock in South Basildon and East Thurrock – ended up winning his seat.” Guardian

It’s apparent that they nominated people who were just working in their regional offices for any random seat miles away. At least one office worker in Leicester has admitted that she was put up for the South Dorset seat. She did nothing to campaign or go near the constituency. Another name has come to light from Leicester who “stood” in Glasgow but no-one saw her.

www.richarddrax.com/news/election-blog-todays-times-reforms-paper-candidate-has-only-visited-south-dorset-once

What perplexes me is that you have to give nomination papers by hand to the Acting Returning Officer. Each nomination must have a sponsor, seconder and eight more assentors, The electoral roll number for each person must be given. The papers don't have to be handed in by the candidate but this applies:

Method of submitting the form to the (A)RO: by hand by yourself, your proposer or seconder, or by your election agent (if the (Acting) Returning Officer has previously received notification of their appointment). It cannot be submitted by post, fax, e-mail or other electronic means.

So this is a concerted administrative effort nationwide to set this up.

Now candidates have 35 days to get all their paperwork to the ARO - which will be interesting.

www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-local-government-elections-england/after-election/completing-your-return

Apparently they had someone standing in York who was dead! They realised this when they sacked him for 'inactivity'.
Doodledog
Thanks, it’s the funniest thing I’ve heard of all day! 🤣🤣🤣

Whitewavemark2

Apparently Farage didn’t turn up as his first day as an MP -

Of course he didn’t.

They should dock his pay.

Just as those NI MPs should have had their expenses docked (I understand they don't receive their salaries).
Grow up the lot of you and start representing your constituents.

Perhaps Farage lost his voice with all the talking he's been doing lately.

I certainly didn’t vote for our Reform candidate. In fact I’ve no idea who he is because I didn’t receive a leaflet and didn’t make any effort to find out anything about him since I had no interest. However, I’m not buying this silly story that these people don’t exist.

I really wish the constant attacks on Farage would cease because now I am beginning to like him and think he has influence after all. He seems to be the whipping boy for everyone. His party only has 5 MPs so why the fuss ?

I was about to say the same thing! I wonder if it’s just ‘fashionable’ to dislike Farage. I sense a witch-hunt sometimes.
I saw him on ‘I’m a Celeb’ and have to admit that I really liked him. He was fair, considerate and charming. That can’t be said about many politicians I am familiar with.
What is up with people that they have to latch on to people and run them down all the time?

Maybe he has replaced Meaghan now as Public Enemy Number One ? I’d sooner have him than her, I have to say.

I have no interest in him.
I was just amazed that some of the candidates might be fake.
My own turns out to be an ex- UKIP candidate. He is real - not AI generated.

For me, it's not "fashionable". I abhor his politics and always have done. I also think the way he operates is despicable.

As for his candidates, it appears that the one who was originally spotted is a real person, but the picture on his flyer was produced by AI, apparently because he didn't have a turquoise tie for an official photo. It doesn't look much like the real person.