A candidate in the UK General Election has admitted to spending thousands of pounds posting Facebook advertisements - including a fake AI image spreading an anti-immigration message.

Tommy Macpherson, an independent standing in Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, has admitted to the Advertiser that he spent £2,324.57 on sponsored Facebook adverts which linked to his Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and Whatsapp Business platforms.

However, research from investigative journalism website The Ferret revealed that he shared 197 ads - more than one per day since the start of 2024.

Paid ads included posts claiming terrorists and criminals were crossing UK borders, and an AI-generated image purporting to show radicalised Palestinian men.

This is one of the paid advertisement that Mr Macpherson shared on his social media channelsThis is one of the paid advertisement that Mr Macpherson shared on his social media channels (Image: Newsquest)

The Ferret's research, which was assisted by the ad library of Meta, reveals that Mr Macpherson spent between £0 and £99 on each ad in the period from January 1 to June 23 this year.

They said that the six ads running between May 17 and 29, which targeted an average of 140,000 users each stated: "Foreign Criminals and Terrorists walk our streets."

The fake AI image shows bearded men wearing headbands similar to those used by Hamas,

But the wording on the headband is muddled, and a shoulder strap ends under the shirt collar, which indicates AI was used.

Prior to the announcement of the General Election, Mr Macpherson set up an account on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, which endorsed the newly formed Reform UK party.

When nominations closed on June 7, Reform UK's candidate in the seat was revealed as Oban resident Melanie Hurst.

The X account that Mr Macpherson set up in April endorsed the Reform UK partyThe X account that Mr Macpherson set up in April endorsed the Reform UK party (Image: Newsquest)

He even posted 39 paid ads on Facebook encouraging people to vote for the party..

But when questioned by the Advertiser over his intentions of the account, he has confirmed that it is "an inactive account".

The account has since been changed to back the national WASPI campaignThe account has since been changed to back the national WASPI campaign (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Macpherson told the Advertiser: "It's an inactive account which I set up a couple of months ago around the time when they were headlining capturing the British electoral psyche of national populism calling for change and reform.

"More recently my perception is a drifted towards towards assimilation and amalgamation. Like my Instagram and TikTok accounts, I very seldom accessed X.

"In the past six month period I've spent the total of £2,324.57 on social media - sponsored FB linking to Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp Business platforms. Of which, to date, £400 is allocated to my General Election campaign.

"As a comparable, in the past fortnight, £2,623.20 has been spent on regional press campaign advertorials.

"I am using my own income and savings with no party funding nor, unlike some party candidates, have I had a public appeal for financial aid. 

"I personally do not rate the letter and leaflets with its associated postal delivery cost. My media campaign strategy remains regional papers and Facebook. I do not envisage using the X account."