Conservative party members at their annual conference are finding amusement in a "Birmingham tapestry" that depicts Robert Jenrick, a former party member now with Reform UK, as a villain. The tapestry illustrates Jenrick's departure from the Conservative party and his failed leadership bid.
The prominent and humorous depiction of Robert Jenrick at the Conservative party conference highlights the deep divisions and lingering animosity within the party following his defection, underscoring the political fallout from his departure and the party's efforts to project unity behind its current leadership.
Conservative party members attending the annual conference in Birmingham are finding humor in a "Birmingham tapestry" that satirizes former party member Robert Jenrick. The 27-meter (88ft) woven artwork, which retells recent British political events through a Conservative lens, depicts Jenrick as a "villain" and "turncoat."
One panel shows Jenrick wailing after losing a leadership contest to Kemi Badenoch, who is portrayed as a conquering warrior. Another panel illustrates Badenoch banishing a sobbing Jenrick, with a photocopier nearby, referencing a story that his resignation letter was found there. Jenrick, who defected to Reform UK and now serves as its economy spokesperson, has been critical of his former party's policies.
Party members expressed delight and amusement at Jenrick's portrayal, with some calling him a "figure of fun" and feeling let down by his past actions. One senior Tory remarked, "I miss him like I would miss an abscess in my molar." Alex Burghart, the Conservative party's deputy leader, unequivocally stated that Jenrick and other defectors would not be welcomed back, expressing relief at their departure. Aphra Brandreth, shadow undersecretary for environment, food and rural affairs, insisted the party has moved on, though Jenrick's presence in the tapestry suggests otherwise.
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