A controversial AI-generated image posted by Plymouth Moor View MP Fred Thomas has drawn significant condemnation, including from figures on the left—but it also exposes the growing disconnect between out-of-touch political elites and the public. The image, shared on Friday, 18 April, depicted Russian President Vladimir Putin alongside a former Labour leader and a well-known nationalist MP, standing behind Putin with their hands on his shoulders and grinning.

The tweet, posted without explanation, unleashed a wave of criticism on social media, including from Jeremy Corbyn who demanded its immediate deletion. Corbyn’s rebuttal framed the post as AI-fuelled “fiction” and disparaged the messenger instead of engaging with the broader issues at stake. Yet, many critics ignored the fact that Corbyn himself has faced scrutiny over his inconsistent stance on foreign policy and Russia.

A Community Notes proposal took pains to highlight Corbyn’s long record of condemning Russian human rights abuses, citing numerous occasions he opposed Moscow’s military aggression, anti-LGBTQ+ laws, political repression, and the assassination of journalists. However, this selective defense fails to address the real concern: that no serious political figure should align themselves, even symbolically, with Putin’s authoritarian regime, regardless of past criticism.

Public reaction revealed the sharp divide in British politics. While some demanded an apology from Mr Thomas and urged current Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to intervene, it is telling that the true outrage on the right remains underreported by mainstream outlets. Many supporters of national sovereignty and common sense see this as yet another example of left-wing sanctimony and political correctness gone mad.

Businessman Simon Scarrow publicly lambasted the tweet as “nasty” and “puerile,” lamenting the lack of standards in today’s Parliament. Meanwhile, Saul Staniforth defended Corbyn’s anti-Russian activism, but failed to note the broader failure of Labour and allied politicians to stand firmly against the Russian regime’s increasingly aggressive ambitions, a stance more consistently held by the rising nationalist faction in Parliament.

Novara Media’s Aaron Bastani dismissed the incident as symptomatic of political malaise across the UK. Yet, what many voters really see is a political class out of touch with the concerns of ordinary Britons—concerns that the nationalist contingent has prioritized by calling for stronger national borders, transparency, and a pragmatic approach to international relations.

Mr Thomas’s office declined to comment on the motivations behind posting the AI image or its subsequent removal, underscoring a lack of accountability that is all too common among traditional politicians. This episode spotlights not just the dangers of AI-generated political messaging run amok, but also the failure of established parties to hold their representatives to a standard that respects the electorate’s intelligence.

As the political landscape shifts following the July general election, with a new Labour government under Kier Starker and the resignation of Rishi Sunak, it is clear that disaffected voters are gravitating towards pragmatic alternatives that challenge the status quo. The emergent nationalist group in Parliament has thus far been more forthright in addressing issues like immigration, national sovereignty, and responsible foreign policy—areas where the Labour Party continues to fall short.

In a time where leadership credibility is paramount, incidents like this serve as a reminder of why many Britons have lost faith in traditional politics—and why the rise of a clear, principled opposition cannot be ignored. It remains to be seen whether the mainstream parties will reform or continue to alienate their base in favour of noisy but hollow gestures.

Source: Noah Wire Services