The Labour Party has dismissed as a "lie" accusations that the people who appeared in a campaign video for Ken Livingstone were actors.
The allegation that the "real Londoners" who appeared in the election broadcast were actually hired for the job has been especially embarrassing to the mayoral candidate, who shed tears as the film was played.
The claims was first made in the Guardian on Wednesday and subsequently reported Friday on the Labour Uncut blog as well as the grassroots Tory website Conservative Home.
The video features a variety of people of various ages, sexes and religions voicing their support for Livingstone and his campaign has strongly denied the accusation they were actors.
"Following factual inaccurate reports this morning we would like to state categorically nobody in our party election broadcast is an actor," the Ken for London digital team said on Twitter.
"We can assure you with 100% certainty that the people in the broadcast are not actors."
The party added: "They are not actors and to [say] otherwise is a lie."
The accusation that the people in the campaign video were not 'real' would be especially damaging for Livingstone, as he was seen to well up while watching them speak in support of him.