Is Richard Tice’s picture AI-manipulated? Here are five giveaways

After Richard Tice posted a picture of an apparent Reform campaign event on Sunday, experts and social media detectives took a closer look and concluded from a variety of telltale signs that the image had either been edited or generated by artificial intelligence. Here are some of the elements that critics called into question.One woman has six fingers on one hand and extra long ones on the other. The man in the beige jacket has three extremely long fingers which look like sausages. AI often gets fingers wrong

Mandelson vetting saga reveals flaws in Starmer’s judgment, not process | Letters

The emerging account of Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador raises a question not of process, but of judgment (Revealed: Mandelson failed vetting but Foreign Office overruled decision, 16 April). The prime minister was warned repeatedly. Briefings in November and December 2024 flagged reputational risks, including well-documented associations and potential exposure if the appointment went wrong. Keir Starmer’s national security adviser raised concerns directly. Yet the appointment proceeded at pace

Starmer orders inquiry into any security concerns over Mandelson’s tenure in US

Keir Starmer has ordered an investigation into any security concerns relating to Peter Mandelson’s tenure as UK ambassador to the US as he gave his side of events in a politically crucial statement in parliament.“I know many members across the house will find these facts to be incredible,” Starmer told jeering MPs, after setting out how the Foreign Office opted to overrule the initial decision to refuse Mandelson’s security vetting without informing him and other ministers. He said: “To that I can only say they are right. Throughout the whole timeline of events, officials in the Foreign Office saw fit to withhold this information from the most senior ministers in our system in government. That is not how the vast majority of people in this country expect politics, government or accountability to work, and I do not think it’s how most public servants think it should work either

What is ‘DV’? Key terms used in the Mandelson vetting row explained

The story of how Peter Mandelson failed his UK security vetting before he took up his post as ambassador to the US – and the overturning of the decision that he should not be given clearance – is full of the abbreviations of the British national security apparatus and the archaic language used to describe parliamentary process.Here are the key terms to understand about the story, as the prime minister, Keir Starmer, faces a vital appearance in the House of Commons in London about who in the government knew what, when.At the heart of the story is Mandelson’s application for a level of security clearance known as “developed vetting” (DV) made after his appointment as ambassador had been announced.According to a government guide to security clearance levels, officials in roles that require them to have “frequent and uncontrolled access” to top secret material and assets need to have DV. That could mean sensitive areas of government buildings as well as classified information

‘Dancing is resistance’: Zack Polanski and the Greens bring the party to the ravers

It was a Sunday evening at one of Leeds’ biggest nightclubs, hot and humid, like walking into a jungle. Dancers pulsated shoulder to shoulder along with the music, riding the optimism of a good night out to come.But the 2,000-plus crowd gathered at Beaver Works were not only there to enjoy house music and abandon themselves to whatever the evening held, they were there to support the local branch of their favourite political party.In a swirl of emerald disco lights, Zack Polanski stepped on to the stage in the main club room to deafening roars from the crowd.“Hey Leeds, how are you doing?” the Green party leader shouted, over rapturous cheers

Reform’s Richard Tice posts picture with telltale signs of AI manipulation, say experts

Deputy leader’s image on X was almost certainly generated or altered using AI, according to Peryton IntelligenceUK politics live – latest updatesIn a picture of a blue-skyed day in Birmingham, a diverse group of Reform supporters gathered with placards and cheesy grins to knock on doors for their party. Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, posted the picture as evidence of the activists’ commitment through thick and thin.“That is what resilience looks like,” he wrote. “This is what belief looks like.”But on closer inspection, the image looks to many observers more like something else: sausage fingers, melted faces, and AI manipulation

Greens ‘have welcomed’ people expelled by Labour for antisemitism, Steve Reed claims

The Greens have welcomed activists kicked out of Labour for antisemitic views and people should be “very careful” who they vote for next month, one of Keir Starmer’s most senior ministers has said in a notable stepping-up of attacks on Zack Polanski’s party.In a double-pronged offensive against the two parties expected to make big gains in the elections on 7 May, Steve Reed also accused Nigel Farage of being more interested in talking to Donald Trump then representing his Clacton constituency.Speaking to the Guardian on his way to Clacton to view projects financed by the government’s Pride in Place scheme, the housing secretary said the Reform UK leader had not attended any of the 10-plus meetings of a local board set up to decide how to spend the £20m grant.And escalating Labour’s attacks on the Greens, who in a series of recent polls have been placed above Labour, Reed accused the party of failing to properly vet council candidates, and allowing in a stream of hard-left former Labour members, some with antisemitic views.If people were tempted to vote Green, Reed said, they should “look at what they put up, because some of them are not what you think – they’re not the fluffy people that care about the environment”

Cabinet secretary apparently advised Starmer to wait for vetting before appointing Mandelson

The then cabinet secretary, Simon Case, appeared to advise Keir Starmer to complete security vetting for Peter Mandelson before announcing an appointment, documents reveal.The documents released last month by the Cabinet Office as part of the disclosures over the US ambassadorial appointment also show Mandelson was offered a “higher tiers” briefing before his vetting was finalised.The Guardian revealed last week that Mandelson failed his initial vetting by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and that decision was then overruled by the Foreign Office. He was appointed as US ambassador but sacked in September after new disclosures about his friendship with the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.In a letter written by Case to the prime minister, he is advised that in order to give the Washington role to a political appointee, the Foreign Office would “develop a plan for them to acquire the necessary security clearances and do due diligence on any potential conflicts of interest or other issues of which you should be aware before confirming your choice”

Naming Mandelson as ambassador before vetting was mistake, minister says

It was a mistake to announce Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US before he was security vetted for the role, one of Keir Starmer’s senior ministers has said before the prime minister’s statement to MPs about the scandal.With Starmer aiming to explain to the Commons on Monday afternoon why he did not know the Foreign Office had overruled a decision to refuse Mandelson vetting, some senior government figures believe the coming week could decide whether or not he remains in No 10.Douglas Alexander, the Scotland secretary, sent out by Downing Street on the Monday morning broadcast round, said when asked if Starmer would lead Labour into the next election: “I expect so.”He added: “Yes, I think he will. There are no certainties