Recently, in a
predictably despicable stunt, Reform used illustrator Stanley Chow's
2020 portrait of @AndyBurnhamGM
for an AI generated attack ad aimed at stirring up hatred of immigrants and
clearly trying to garner Restore votes. Kudos to Chow, a second generation
immigrant from Manchester, for standing up for his rights and threatening legal
action. Reform has taken down the ad but could still face a lawsuit. That's the
good news.
There's another side
to the artwork and what it represents, though. Burnham seems to be misusing it
too, for different reasons, and in a way that's unacknowledged. At least with
Reform we all know who they are, because they don't try to hide it.
But Burnham is a
different story. His words say he's one thing; a genuine, honest bloke caring
deeply about the ills of society, but his actions offer a sharply contrasting
picture. Chow said he created the portrait to "represent something
positive about Manchester and Andy’s vision for the city". Back in 2021,
everybody believed Burnham when he vowed that, “This is the job in politics I truly want.
Why? Because, in a way I could never be in Westminster, this job brings out the
real me.”
Asked if he'd ever run
for Labour leadership again, he said, “I can’t see it happening, genuinely. I
personally believe the longer you stay in Westminster the more it makes a fraud
out of you.”
In 2024 when running
for re-election as Mayor he said, "When it comes to the decency and warmth
of the people, there is no better city region on Earth than this one that we
live in. That is why being elected to represent for the third time means absolutely
everything to me. I can honestly say I have never given anything less than my
all to this job and I've tried to be there for all communities, and everyone
who lives here – and I promise to do again."
When he was re-elected
he said, "I am ready to fight harder than I have ever fought for anything
before, for a Greater Manchester where people can live free from the fear of
debt, hunger and eviction, and where everyone is set up to be part of the growing
success story that is our city region today. Greater Manchester will continue
to lead the way and we will do it together, thank you so much for your support.
I look forward to getting on with the job again immediately, and I won't let
you down."
Another time he said
that he was “much happier” in his role as mayor compared to being in
Westminster & wanted to “serve a full third term, because the stuff I want
to do hasn’t been done yet. Being elected to represent for the third time means
absolutely everything to me. Honestly, I’m here for a full third term."
That's what Chow's image was meant to represent.
But Burnham casually
abandoned his promises to the city when opportunity arose for him to use
Makerfield to undermine the Labour Party and further his personal ambition to
be PM, an ambition he's always disingenuously denied. And, he supports Shabana
Mahmood's harsh immigration policies that have drawn a lot of angry criticism -
including Burnham's, until he saw an opportunity to stab @Keir_Starmer and the
Labour Party in the back but realised that to fulfill his ambition he'd have to
sacrifice immigrants. Not to mention Josh Simons, who gave up his seat for
Burnham, and Manchester, who would probably get a Reform mayor if Burnham won
Makerfield.
Having said in 2021
that Westminster makes a fraud out of you, he's now embracing that fraud. Is
this how Chow intended his artwork to be used? Representing fraud and betrayal,
and all under the transparent guise of 'Andy the good bloke'?
Maybe Stanley Chow sees it differently and would be okay with it. I don't know. I haven't spoken to him. I admire his success as an illustrator. He was selling prints of the original portrait and donating the proceeds to charity. Again, kudos to him. But if I'd created that portrait, I'd be telling Andy Burnham he can't use it any more.
