DOUBT has been raised about several election hopefuls who stood without providing any details about themselves.
Reform denies Mark Matlock is an AI-generated candidate after there appeared to be little digital footprint. Here’s what we know about him.
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Who is Mark Matlock?
Mark Matlock, a candidate whose existence was seriously questioned by voters, did not appear at hustings or even the election count.
His campaign platform included responsible management of human job transitions to AI, as stated on his website.
Although he was physically absent, he verified his identity in a phone interview with The Independent, stating, “I am a real person and that is me in the photo.”
He then addressed the rumours about his existence: “Though I must admit I am enjoying the free publicity and when I feel up to it I will put out a video and prove these rumours that I’m a robot are absolute baloney.
“I got pneumonia three days before election night. I was exercising, taking vitamins so I could attend, but it was just not viable.
“On election night I couldn’t even stand.”
He clarified the authenticity of his campaign photo, which was edited due to logistical challenges: “The photo 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.”
Regarding the online conspiracy theories suggesting he wasn’t real, Matlock shared his amusement and perspective: “I just laughed when I saw it. I think it perked me up. I thought ‘I need to get back out there!’
“This is doing more good for me than my campaign – it’s fantastic.”
Matlock also discussed his efforts to participate in hustings, which were unsuccessful: “I called Lambeth council loads of times to get on hustings but none of them invited me to the hustings.
“I am so pro-hustings. I care about what I’m running for and invite people to question me but I was never given that opportunity.
“The Tories and Labour didn’t want us there.”
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Matlock, who is from the Cotswolds, blamed the quick turnaround for his lack of presence in the capital.
He said to the Guardian: “The election caught us all on the hop and Rishi Sunak knew that.
“But we still managed to fill most of the seats with candidates, even if not all of them lived there, and it all contributed to our vote share.”
He explained his campaign strategy and its challenges, particularly in London where he had been absent at times: “I was really pleased [with the votes] given the time we had. I was campaigning in Clacton for Nigel to make sure he got his seat.
“Had the leader not got his seat, it would have made a mockery of our entire party.
“Given the time we had we couldn’t develop a strong team of volunteers to go knocking on doors and leafleting.
“I was outside the tube station but other days I had to dedicate myself to neighbouring constituencies.”
Matlock reflected on the overall election results: “We never truly believed we would ever do as well as we did in London.
“We got 4 million votes but only five seats. Some of us are smarting but overall we are psyched.
“We are a new party the election was shoved on us in such a short space of time – it is unbelievable.”
What party does Mark Matlock represent?
Mark Matlock won 1,758 votes in Clapham and Brixton Hill in south London for Reform UK.
He is one of 609 candidates put forward by the party.
The election website managed by Nigel Farage’s party only provides the names and constituencies of its candidates, without any additional details or personal contact information, aside from a regional email.
Many of these candidates lack a digital footprint and did not appear in person to campaign.
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At certain electoral counts, it was noted that the Reform candidate was the only one absent.
Electoral regulations stipulate that a candidate’s full name and residential constituency are the only required disclosures.
Each candidate must also have an agent and be endorsed by ten local supporters.
For some Reform candidates, it’s unclear whether they are registered voters in the constituencies they aim to represent, with a few residing hundreds of miles away.
All our candidates are categorically real.
Reform
There was an instance where an individual, sharing the name and location of a listed candidate, denied being the candidate.
While there’s no evidence suggesting any candidates are fictitious, such a scenario would constitute a major electoral violation.
Reform’s strategy attempts to capture as large a portion of the national vote as possible.
Despite their lack of visibility, some candidates managed to secure several thousand votes.
What have Reform said about their party candidates?
Reform has denied the allegations and said that none of the candidates are AI-generated.
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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.”
