British Newspaper Frontpage Fabricated to Falsely Target Prime Minister Starmer

A digitally manipulated newspaper front page claiming to show Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as the subject of a scathing headline has been circulating widely on social media platforms, fact-checkers have confirmed.

The fabricated image purports to be the front page of The i Paper from “Wednesday October 15, 2025,” featuring an image of Sir Keir alongside a damning headline reading “He lied and lied and lied.” However, investigators have determined the image is an elaborate fake that repurposes a genuine front page that was originally published in June 2023 about former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The original newspaper featured Johnson’s photograph beside the identical headline, referring to findings from a Privileges Committee investigation examining whether Johnson had misled Parliament regarding pandemic-era “partygate” allegations during his tenure as Prime Minister.

Digital media analysts point out that the manipulated image contains multiple inconsistencies that reveal its fabricated nature. Among the telltale signs are outdated article teasers that reference events from 2023, including “tributes to Glenda Jackson” – the acclaimed actor and former MP who passed away that year – and an obituary for “Gordon McQueen, 1952-2023.”

Further undermining the image’s credibility are additional article references specifically related to Boris Johnson, including opinion pieces titled “beware the martyrdom of Saint Boris” and “Bereaved seek an apology from Johnson” – elements clearly carried over from the authentic 2023 publication.

“This type of digital manipulation represents a growing challenge in our information ecosystem,” said media literacy expert Dr. Emma Richardson, who was not directly involved in debunking this particular case. “When recognizable media formats like newspaper front pages are repurposed with false information, it can be particularly effective at misleading casual readers who may only glance at the content.”

The falsified image also failed to account for design changes implemented by The i Paper since 2023, including updates to both its masthead design and cover price – discrepancies that further expose the fraudulent nature of the circulated image.

This incident reflects a concerning trend of manipulated media being used to target political figures across the spectrum. Digital disinformation researchers have documented an increase in such fabrications that leverage the credibility of established news outlets to lend apparent legitimacy to false claims.

“What makes these manipulations particularly problematic is how they exploit existing visual formats that people inherently trust,” noted digital media researcher Thomas Harford from the Center for Information Integrity. “A newspaper front page carries built-in authority that social media posts simply don’t have.”

Fact-checking organizations emphasize that verifying news sources has become increasingly important in the digital age, particularly as artificial intelligence tools make sophisticated image manipulation more accessible to users without specialized technical skills.

The i Paper has not publicly commented on the falsified front page, but media outlets generally condemn the unauthorized manipulation of their content, especially when used to spread misinformation about public figures.

Experts recommend that social media users maintain healthy skepticism when encountering provocative political content online, particularly when claims seem designed specifically to provoke outrage, and to verify information through reliable news sources before sharing or engaging with potentially manipulated media.