The Conservative Party closed submissions to its latest policy marketing concept after users began using the cameo-based video tool to mock Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and criticise the government.
The original intent of the Conservative Party’s website was to offer personalised messages from the Prime Minister to supporters, focusing on key issues like the NHS, the economy, or immigration. After inputting their name, hometown and policy priorities, users would receive a video from Sunak that included customised elements like a laptop and a newspaper headline based on information given.
However, the idea backfired when a video generated by writers at right-leaning blog Guido Fawkes had Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sending a New Year greeting to none other than his political adversary, GB News host and Brexiteer Nigel Farage.
“Like you, I think immigration levels are too high,” the auto-generated Sunak told Farage.
The video quickly went viral, some believing it was real while others jumped online to create their own videos.
Guido Fawkes reporter Max Young created another clip, this time using Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s name so that a poster featured in the generated video read: “Keir’s priorities are my priorities.” Young joked that Sunak was making videos for his right-wing rivals the Reform Party.
The Tory campaign tool, launched on Facebook and promising “A personal video from the Prime Minister,” was designed to boost engagement ahead of the expected general election later this
Amid escalating mockery the Tories paused the cameo feature. The Conservative Party Press Office has not responded to comment requests, but insiders report that these videos do not use Artificial Intelligence.
Political transparency activists began digging into the third party tool used, SEEN.io, and its functionality, concluding that the prime minister may have spent hours reading up to 1000 names in order to use the tool.