Councillor says AI video of mayor 'serves purpose'

A councillor has defended creating and sharing an AI generated video of a mayor, saying it "served a purpose".

The video was made by independent councillor Alastair Chambers and showed the Mayor of Gloucester, councillor Ashley Bowkett, dressed in ceremonial robes saying he would not allow an investigation in to the city council's finances.

Mr Chambers said: "If I need to push boundaries and use modern technology to expose what's really going on, I will do, every single time."

The Liberal Democrat group on Gloucester City Council has called for an investigation and said the content was "beneath the standards expected of anyone in public office".

The video was posted on the Spotted Gloucestershire Facebook page on Sunday.

Earlier this month the city council revealed it was facing bankruptcy and would apply to the government for a bailout of up to £17.5m.

Mr Chambers claimed he asked for a special council meeting to discuss the overspend, but that this was refused by Mr Bowkett in emails which have not been seen by the BBC.

He said this prompted him to make the video.

"Long emails, long threads, long articles don't often get across the point of what is happening," he added.

Mr Chambers said he was not concerned that people might be unaware the video is not real.

Mr Bowkett is a member of the Liberal Democrat group, but the role of city mayor is apolitical and ceremonial.

A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat group said the video is "appalling" and they urged the council to launch a formal complaints and standards investigation.

"Gloucester deserves councillors whose priority is the city and the residents they serve.

"Not cheap stunts. Not mockery. Not behaviour that belongs in social media outrage clips," they added.

When asked whether a formal complaint had been lodged against Mr Chambers, Gloucester City Council said it "cannot comment" on "individual elected members."

A special meeting in to the authority's financial position is scheduled to take place next week.

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