Reform UK candidate Mark Matlock is a real person, not 'AI-generated'

What is the claim? 

An image of a campaign leaflet featuring Reform UK party candidate Mark Matlock is circulating on social media, claiming that he does not exist and his picture is AI (Artificial Intelligence) generated. Matlock was the Reform UK candidate from Clapham and Brixton Hill constituency of south London in the 2024 U.K. general elections. The elections, held on July 4, 2024, concluded with the Labour Party securing a majority and Keir Starmer being elected as the new Prime Minister.

A Facebook user shared an image of Matlock’s campaign poster with the caption: “I thought this was a joke at first, but it looks like the UK Reform Party fielded several candidates that don't even exist. Exhibit A: They ran a candidate called Mark Matlock in the Clapham and Brixton Hill Constituency. Nobody can knows nor can trace him. Tell me this picture from their official website isn't AI." An archived version of this and other similar posts can be viewed here, here, and here. 

Examples of this claim circulating on X (formerly Twitter) can be seen archived here, here, and here.

Screenshot of viral posts circulating on social media. (Source: X/Facebook/Screenshot/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, we found that the claims are false, and Reform UK party candidate Mark Matlock does exist. 

How did we find it?

A Google search led us to a report by The Guardian stating that Matlock’s absence during the election count and the lack of photos of him campaigning had raised suspicions about his existence. However, the Guardian reported that they were able to get in touch with Matlock, and Matlock told the news outlet that while the image was his, it had been edited to change the color of his tie to blue, the color of the Reform UK party. 

Matlock was quoted as saying, “The image is me. Stupidly, I had to get it altered to change my tie and suit as I couldn’t get to a photographer on time.” The report adds that The Guardian has seen a copy of the original photo, where only his tie color was edited.

The Independent also reported quoting Matlock, stating, "I am a real person and that is me in the photo.” He added, “The photo (original) of me was taken outside the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. I had the background removed and replaced with the logo and they changed the colour of my tie. The only reason that was done was because we couldn’t get a photographer at such short notice - but that is me.” The report also included the original photo of Matlock, which he claimed to be the unedited version of the image in the viral posts.

Screenshot of the original photo included in The Independent report. (Source: The Independent/Screenshot) 

Matlock also appeared in an interview with GB News on July 9, 2024, in which he once again confirmed his identity and admitted that the picture used on his leaflet was edited. The Telegraph also reported on this interview, which can be read here.

Screenshot of GB News video report showing Mark Matlock’s presence. (Source: YouTube/Screenshot)

Sky News Political Editor Matt Grant posted a statement on X from the Metropolitan Police (archived here) which said, “We are aware of reports and, having reviewed the matter, have confirmed the candidate’s identity and we have not identified any offences."

On July 9, Matlock posted a video (archived here) of himself addressing the issue on X, saying, “Good afternoon, everyone. Well, I am real. I exist. I am here. There’s been some controversy that I don't exist and I am fake.” He later states, “This is just outrageous. This is just complete misinformation. It is fake news. They are attacking our party.”

We found a social media post shared by Matlock on his official X account (archived here) on July 5, stating that he missed the election count due to pneumonia, possibly explaining his absence.

The above evidence confirms that he is a real person and not a fake candidate by the Reform UK party. We have also reached out to Matlock and will update this check once we receive a response.

The verdict

Although the Reform UK party candidate Mark Matlock’s picture on his campaign leaflet has been edited to change the color of his tie, he is a real person and not fake, contrary to the claims made in the social media posts.