Welcome to the party!
I’ve never considered my posters to be political. Always wanted to spread a bit of fun rather than get people’s knickers in a twist.
However, I recently looked at my market stall and realised that there is something there for people across the political spectrum, albeit unintentionally (apart from one) by me.
So there’s the Northern Mother poster - which has been flying recently - and ardent socialists could read whatever they want to in that. Social realism, heroic Soviet-era pose. Man the barricades with Jeremy!
Then there’s the Manc-hattan poster, which could be viewed as a homage to capitalism, with those giant Deansgate skyscrapers, and Willie Gladstone in the foreground. More phallic conservatism than you can shake a Boris plonker at! G&Ts all round!
And that brings me to the Lib-dems, who no one can possible hate but who neither can most people get passionate about. Goodwill to all men, women, children, dogs, non-binary, sexually-fluid hamsters, you name it. A sort of Christmassy type vibe then, reflected in my Mancunian Christmas card. Raise your egg-nog glasses to that!
Finally, there’s the Manchester Manifesto, which is political, but in a non-party way. Power to Manchester!
So take your pick, cast your vote and keep your fingers crossed!
By the way, the Northern Mother poster is a tribute to my late mum, and the dedication reads:
Dedicated to Annie Jackson. Born in Ardwick, Manchester, shortly after the First World War, served with the armed forces during the Second World War, married the boy next door, had five kids, two of them stillborn, widowed before she was 40, brought up her children while working as a waitress in a factory, final weekly pay packet £32. Died of cancer aged 62. Heroine. Lady. Dancer. Worker. Fighter.
Make of that what you will.
This weekend we are at Altrincham Market (Saturday and Sunday) and Treacle Market in Macclesfield (Sunday). See you there.
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