Tory councillors reported to police for sharing ‘sexist’ deepfake AI video

"It's just politics, isn't it?"

Neil Cleaver and Michael Lunn sit on Wealden District council in East Sussex, where Millward is deputy leader. 

They are tonight facing calls to resign. 

Speaking to PoliticsJOE, Cleaver declined to comment, adding “it's just politics, isn't it”. 

A spokesperson for the Green Party has described the video as highly offensive and misogynistic. 

The deepfake pictured Millward with enlarged breasts standing alongside her Green Party leadership colleagues, Zack Polanski and Mothin Ali. 

Councillor Michael Lunn’s account shared the video on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) with the caption “Amazing skills from the Green Party 🥳. Nice one Zac. 👍”

The post was later retweeted by fellow Councillor Neil Cleaver. 

Sharing of AI-generated intimate images such as deepfakes without consent became a criminal offence under the Online Safety Act last year.

The Conservative leader of the Wealden District is tonight facing calls to suspend the two councillors while an investigation is undertaken. 

Speaking to PoliticsJOE, Ann Newton described the accusations as “biased”. 

Pushed on whether the two councillors would be suspended, Newton declined to comment. 

Cllr James Partridge, Liberal Democrat and Leader of the Council (Alliance for Wealden) said: "The public rightly expect politicians to get on with the day job of running public services, not share offensive images of their political opponents. The behaviour of these councillors must be called out for what it is: sexist and shameful.

"The local conservative leader, Cllr Ann Newton, must show some leadership and immediately suspend the Conservative whip from these councillors whilst the council's Standards Committee and the police investigate whether offences have been committed."

Cleaver defected from the Liberal Democrats in May of last year, owing to “Green Party influence” in the council’s leadership. 

In an article published on the council’s website, he criticises the Liberal Democrats’ “left-wing ideology” and their support for “ever greater inappropriate [housing] development”.

The Liberal Democrats formed a coalition agreement with the Green Party in 2023, of which Millward became joint-leader. 

Lunn, elected in 2011, runs a pedigree Sussex beef farm in Hadlow Down, and is currently campaigning on local speeding issues. 

We have approached Michael Lunn for comment.