Manchester artist Stanley Chow is to sue after Tories used his Andy Burnham cartoon on 'Bottler Burnham' water bottles without permission
From the Newshound archive · first published 5 October 2026 · last updated 6 October 2026.
Stanley Chow, a Manchester illustrator who works for the New Yorker, discovered at the Conservative conference in Birmingham that his portrait of Prime Minister Andy Burnham had been printed on water bottles bearing the slogan 'Bottler Burnham' after he spotted them on Sky News. Chow says the Tories never sought his consent and has emailed the party demanding a public apology and plans to send an invoice. The Conservative Party dismissed the copyright claim as 'nonsense', insisting the design was created by their own designers.
Chow said he was 'stunned and angry' at what he called 'childish' behaviour from an institution that 'should know better'.
The artist says he wants to stand up for all creators struggling in 'the age of AI and the current economic climate'.
More
The GuardianArtist calls in lawyers after Tories use his Burnham portrait without consentBBC News - EnglandArtist 'taking legal advice' over Tories' use of Andy Burnham portraitThe IndependentArtist hits out at Tories after party ‘uses his illustration of Burnham without permission’HuffPost UKTories Left Red-Faced After Artist Threatens To Sue Over 'Bottler Burnham' StuntMetroArtist hits out at Tories for 'using his Andy Burnham cartoon' on water bottlefacebook.comArtist Stanley Chow has hit out at the Tory party after water bottles which appeared to use his image of Andy Burnham were handed out at their conference in Birmingham. - facebook.comThe Independent on MSNTories accused of using illustrator’s designs without permissionDaily Mail on MSNBit wet, Andy? Labour complains about Tories using cartoon image of 'bottler' Burnhamaboutmanchester.co.ukManchester Artist Stanley Chow seeking legal advise over Tory’s use of Burnham portrait - aboutmanchester.co.uk