Reform UK's Darren Grimes Under Investigation Over Fake AI Asylum Video of Keir Starmer
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Reform UK's deputy leader on Durham Council, Darren Grimes, is the subject of an official complaint after speaking as a representative of "your Reform county council" in a video that uses fake AI footage of Keir Starmer at the helm of an asylum boat.
In the video on 8 August, the former GB News presenter, who was recently appointed to the party's national organising board, appears to prejudge an active criminal trial, and attacks those who might complain about his anti-migrant videos.
He speaks to "residents of Durham as one of Reform's county councillors" in the video - suggesting he is speaking in a professional capacity as deputy leader of the Reform stronghold, controlled by the party since May.
The video features an AI-generated video of Starmer leading a boat of asylum seekers, with no indication that it was made with video manipulation software.
In the video Grimes talks about the safety of "when our women and girls walked our streets" - using a video of white women in swimwear from the circa-1950s, apparently in contrast to Britain now, with foreign asylum seekers supposedly threatening women's safety.
The former GB News presenter was previously subject to a sexual harassment complaint while at the broadcaster. Grimes was alleged to to have swarmed a straight young male colleague with "incessant" calls, and messages in which he called him "angel", and made unwelcome invitations to his hotel room, as Byline Times reported.
EXCLUSIVE
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Vigilantes with links to Neo-Nazi groups are whipping up fear about migrants while soliciting donations for accompanying children to supposed safety
Byline Times Team
Grimes has been repeatedly contacted to comment on the allegations.
In the 8 August video, Grimes also talks of "Sudanese deviants", Labour being "demented sheep" for promoting diversity, and talks about the active court case of an asylum seeker for alleged sexual offences as representing the "violation of children" by migrants (despite no verdict being given yet). He also mocks those who would complain about his video.
Grimes says: "If you're a Labour or Lib Dem watching this, thinking 'oh I want to complain about Old Grimesy getting on his high horse'…I'll get loads of complaints for saying this by the way. I'll be hauled in front of all sorts of committees for being willing to speak truth to the powers that be…What horrors have been unleashed because of this inaction?"
He goes on to reference cases of asylum seekers and refugees being accused of sexual assault, ignoring recent cases like an all-white grooming gang being found guilty this April for preying on underage girls, or a (white) former Conservative sex offender who recently joined Reform.
Byline Times asked if the video was acceptable for the council's deputy leader - speaking in that capacity or otherwise - and if it is being investigated by the council, and was told by a Durham County Council spokesperson: "We are looking into a complaint regarding a Facebook video in line with our code of conduct procedure."
This outlet has seen a complaint made to the council about Grimes' video.
It states: "Firstly, the member is posting as a DCC councillor…While invoking Council authority, he uses a fabricated/AI image of the Prime Minister, apparently smiling with glee on a "small boat" with refugees, while he (Grimes) talks about 'clowns in Westminster cooked up the rules [allowing] smaller HMOs', and 'unchecked arrivals from cultures that couldn't give a flying flamingo about our values'.
UPDATE
The Reform and Conservative Politicians Mingling With Neo-Nazis and Fascists at Asylum Hotel Protests
The recent wave of anti-migrant protests are providing a bridge between right-wing elected politicians and extremist groups
Josiah Mortime...
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Reform UK's deputy leader on Durham Council, Darren Grimes, is the subject of an official complaint after speaking as a representative of "your Reform county council" in a video that uses fake AI footage of Keir Starmer at the helm of an asylum boat.
In the video on 8 August, the former GB News presenter, who was recently appointed to the party's national organising board, appears to prejudge an active criminal trial, and attacks those who might complain about his anti-migrant videos.
He speaks to "residents of Durham as one of Reform's county councillors" in the video - suggesting he is speaking in a professional capacity as deputy leader of the Reform stronghold, controlled by the party since May.
The video features an AI-generated video of Starmer leading a boat of asylum seekers, with no indication that it was made with video manipulation software.
In the video Grimes talks about the safety of "when our women and girls walked our streets" - using a video of white women in swimwear from the circa-1950s, apparently in contrast to Britain now, with foreign asylum seekers supposedly threatening women's safety.
The former GB News presenter was previously subject to a sexual harassment complaint while at the broadcaster. Grimes was alleged to to have swarmed a straight young male colleague with "incessant" calls, and messages in which he called him "angel", and made unwelcome invitations to his hotel room, as Byline Times reported.
EXCLUSIVE
Concierge Nationalism: How the Far-Right Is Selling Extremism as a Lifestyle Service
Vigilantes with links to Neo-Nazi groups are whipping up fear about migrants while soliciting donations for accompanying children to supposed safety
Byline Times Team
Grimes has been repeatedly contacted to comment on the allegations.
In the 8 August video, Grimes also talks of "Sudanese deviants", Labour being "demented sheep" for promoting diversity, and talks about the active court case of an asylum seeker for alleged sexual offences as representing the "violation of children" by migrants (despite no verdict being given yet). He also mocks those who would complain about his video.
Grimes says: "If you're a Labour or Lib Dem watching this, thinking 'oh I want to complain about Old Grimesy getting on his high horse'…I'll get loads of complaints for saying this by the way. I'll be hauled in front of all sorts of committees for being willing to speak truth to the powers that be…What horrors have been unleashed because of this inaction?"
He goes on to reference cases of asylum seekers and refugees being accused of sexual assault, ignoring recent cases like an all-white grooming gang being found guilty this April for preying on underage girls, or a (white) former Conservative sex offender who recently joined Reform.
Byline Times asked if the video was acceptable for the council's deputy leader - speaking in that capacity or otherwise - and if it is being investigated by the council, and was told by a Durham County Council spokesperson: "We are looking into a complaint regarding a Facebook video in line with our code of conduct procedure."
This outlet has seen a complaint made to the council about Grimes' video.
It states: "Firstly, the member is posting as a DCC councillor…While invoking Council authority, he uses a fabricated/AI image of the Prime Minister, apparently smiling with glee on a "small boat" with refugees, while he (Grimes) talks about 'clowns in Westminster cooked up the rules [allowing] smaller HMOs', and 'unchecked arrivals from cultures that couldn't give a flying flamingo about our values'.
UPDATE
The Reform and Conservative Politicians Mingling With Neo-Nazis and Fascists at Asylum Hotel Protests
The recent wave of anti-migrant protests are providing a bridge between right-wing elected politicians and extremist groups
Josiah Mortime...
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