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Tories agree to pay artist after legal threat over ‘Bottler Burnham’
The Conservatives have agreed to pay illustrator Stanley Chow after using his portrait of Andy Burnham on political merchandise without permission. The settlement follows Chow’s threat of legal action and raises questions about political parties’ responsibility to respect artists’ copyright and control over how their work is used.
The portrait was created for Labour’s Makerfield by-election campaign and appeared on water bottles handed to journalists at the Conservatives’ autumn conference, alongside the slogans “Bottler Burnham” and “0 per cent strength”. The party agreed to pay a £1,000 copyright fee and contribute towards Chow’s legal costs; the same image also appeared on sweets labelled “Andy Panders” People Pleaser Pick N Mix.
In short
- Conservatives settle with illustrator Stanley Chow over an unauthorised portrait.
- The image appeared on conference water bottles and sweets.
- Chow receives a £1,000 copyright fee plus help with legal costs.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Artists should be paid and retain control over how their work is reproduced, particularly when it is repurposed for a political message they did not create. Respecting copyright supports creative livelihoods and helps ensure parties obtain permission rather than treating campaign material as free to use.
The case against
Political parties may argue that using an image in pointed political merchandise is a form of political expression and commentary, where rapid, effective communication matters. They could also contend that a dispute over a limited use should be resolved proportionately, while accepting that copyright obligations and any payment due still need to be addressed.
Explained simply
Copyright gives artists control over how their work is copied and used. Political campaigns often use images and slogans on printed materials and merchandise, but they need permission to use work they do not own.
Stanley Chow is an illustrator, and Andy Burnham is the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester. Chow made the portrait for Labour’s Makerfield by-election campaign, a local election contest; the Conservatives later used it on conference merchandise.
The dispute raises questions about how political parties should handle artists’ work when using it to criticise an opponent. It also highlights that copyright rules apply to campaign materials as well as other commercial uses.