Full Breakdown
Conservative Party Accused of Copyright Infringement Over Andy Burnham Cartoon
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
At the recent Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, party staff distributed water bottles and sweets featuring a cartoon of Prime Minister Andy Burnham that had been created by Manchester-based illustrator Stanley Chow. Chow says the image was used without his permission and that he is now seeking legal advice.
Background & Context
The cartoon was originally produced for Burnham’s 2021 Greater Manchester mayoral campaign and later appeared in a Makerfield by-election advertisement for Reform UK. Chow, who also contributes to *The New Yorker*, discovered the image being displayed on the bottles during a live Sky News broadcast from the conference.
Official Statements & Responses
A Conservative Party spokeswoman said the bottled items were not for sale and were only handed out to journalists in “goody bags”. The party has not issued a formal comment beyond that statement.
Bell added that using an artist’s work without consent is unacceptable.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I was stunned and angry when I saw what they had done. It is childish from them. I am taking legal advice.” — Stanley Chow
- “When it appeared up on Sky News they were having a laugh and a joke about it, I thought, hang on, they have done this without telling me? I am peeved.” — Stanley Chow
Legal Analysis
He indicated that Chow could seek both injunctive relief to stop further distribution and monetary damages for the unauthorised exploitation of his work.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Conservative Party’s explanation that the items were merely “goody-bag” handouts differs from Chow’s claim that the items were displayed publicly on television, suggesting a discrepancy over the extent of the distribution. No further details have been provided about whether the party obtained any internal clearance before using the cartoon.