Tories and Labour use spoof Bayeux Tapestries in political battle

Key facts

• The Conservative Party created an 88-foot mock-up of the Bayeux Tapestry at its conference.
• The 'Birmingham Tapestry' retells the last two years from a Tory perspective.
• Kemi Badenoch is depicted as a triumphant leader in the Conservative tapestry.
• Labour's version of the tapestry criticizes Liz Truss's economic policies and Boris Johnson's lockdown parties.
• The Conservative tapestry includes depictions of Angela Rayner vaping and Nigel Farage arguing with Count Binface.

The Conservative Party has unveiled an 88-foot mock-up of the Bayeux Tapestry at its conference in Birmingham, aiming to frame leader Kemi Badenoch as a triumphant figure and criticize political opponents. The "Birmingham Tapestry" retells recent political events from a Conservative perspective, depicting the fall of Labour leader Keir Starmer and the rise of Andy Burnham, while also mocking figures like Chancellor John Healey and former Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Specific depictions in the Conservative version include Angela Rayner vaping, Nigel Farage arguing with Count Binface, and Robert Jenrick weeping after Badenoch's triumph in the 2024 Tory leadership contest. The tapestry also illustrates Badenoch "expelling the turncoat" Jenrick as he plotted his defection to Reform UK.

Labour has responded with its own AI-generated version of the Bayeux Tapestry, which they describe as "AI slop." Their version targets former Prime Minister Liz Truss, showing her "crashing the economy" with her mini-Budget and being outlasted by a lettuce, a reference to a Daily Star stunt. It also recreates Boris Johnson's lockdown parties.

Sources indicate that the Conservative Party, under Badenoch's leadership, is moving past an "apology era" following their 2024 election defeat and is attempting to return to core principles. Despite a prevailing positive mood at the conference and a rise in Badenoch's approval ratings, the party faces a long road to regaining power, with questions lingering over potential coalitions with Reform UK, a prospect Badenoch has publicly ruled out.