Reform UK has been forced to remove a series of attack adverts targeting Andy Burnham after the artist behind the images threatened legal action, opening a fresh front in the party’s increasingly aggressive political campaigning. The row centres on social media posts that allegedly used and altered a portrait of Burnham without permission. What began as a campaign attack has rapidly escalated into a copyright dispute carrying the threat of court action, damages and demands for a public apology. Artist Strikes Back Over ‘Unauthorised’ Use Illustrator Stanley Chow, whose portrait of Burnham has featured prominently in the Greater Manchester Mayor’s by-election campaign, accused Reform of hijacking his work to promote a message he fundamentally opposes. The disputed posts reportedly showed AI-generated images of people in a small boat holding “Vote Andy” placards featuring Chow’s artwork. Through his lawyers, Chow argued the image had been edited and repurposed without consent to push what he described as an anti-immigration narrative. “For me, this is straightforward,” Chow said. “My work has been used without permission to share a message that I fundamentally disagree with.” Legal Pressure Forces Removal Law firm Brabners has accused Reform of copyright infringement and demanded the party stop using the images. Lawyers warned their client could seek an injunction, compensation and a public acknowledgement of wrongdoing. A formal letter reportedly seeks at least £5,000 in damages and calls for a public statement to be published across Reform’s social media channels and website. Unless undertakings are accepted by Monday afternoon, court proceedings could follow. Reform Rejects Allegations Reform insists it believes its use of the material falls under “fair use” and claims the legal challenge is politically motivated. However, the party has removed the posts, saying it acted “in good faith” and without admitting liability. The decision limits the immediate fallout but does little to end a dispute that now raises wider questions about political campaigning, AI-generated content and the ownership of creative work. Campaign Battle Moves Beyond Politics The clash lands at a sensitive moment as Reform seeks to expand its electoral appeal ahead of future contests. Instead of focusing solely on immigration and local politics, the party now finds itself defending its campaign tactics in the face of mounting legal scrutiny. What started as a social media attack has become a test case over copyright, political messaging and the limits of digital campaigning in an increasingly volatile election environment. Reform UK removes Burnham posts after artist threatens legal action
