Illustrator Stanley Chow created a portrait of Andy Burnham after the mayor's rousing 2020 speech outside Manchester Central Library, posting it on Twitter where Burnham quickly adopted it. The image has since appeared on billboards, beer mats, and campaign materials, becoming a visual symbol for Burnham's mayoral and byelection campaigns. Chow recently took legal action against Reform UK for unauthorized use of the image with anti-immigration messaging.
This story highlights the power of viral political imagery in modern campaigning and the blurred lines between free promotion and intellectual property rights. Chow's illustration became an unofficial brand for Burnham's anti-establishment persona, demonstrating how grassroots digital art can shape political identity. The unauthorized use by Reform UK also raises questions about meme culture, consent, and the legal protections illustrators have when their work is co-opted for opposing political agendas.