Tapisserie de Birmingham: The 5 big moments on the Tory exhibit | Politics | News
Have you ever wondered what Andy Burnham would look like in tapestry form? Well, look no further, because it would seem the Conservative Party have got you covered.
Their Conference kicks off this week, and they have broken out a faux museum exhibit showing off the โBirmingham Tapestryโ. We went along to see what it is all about.
Chronicling the ascension of Kemi Badenoch as leader, and her first year in power, the tapestry also shows off several major news stories and Daily Express campaigns.
See the best of them here.
Andy Burnham seeking to take the UK back to Europe
Few would have missed the news when Andy Burnham said he would seek to rejoin the EU as one of the options for a reset with the bloc.
Now it is immortalised in tapestry form, depicted as Mr Burnham sewing the UKโs star back into the EU flag.
The Daily Express is campaigning to โgive us a proper Brexitโ having backed the campaign to leave, which saw the largest democratic mandate in British history back the call.
(Image: Daily Express)
Farming Protests
Shortly after coming into power, Labour announced they would bring in a death tax on Britainโs farms. This decision, which was branded cruel, led to protests in the heart of Westminster.
So began the Daily Express โSave Britainโs Family Farmsโ campaign, which demanded a reversal of this cruel tax.
While the Labour Government has watered down the tax, they have yet to fully reverse it despite warnings it would break up family farms and harm the nationโs food security.
(Image: Daily Express)
The Early Release Scheme
Next came Labourโs decision to open up prison spaces by letting lags loose early. Despite opposition from victims of crime and their own MPs, the policy continues to this day.
Launched to try and reduce prison overcrowding, the scheme sees some prisoners let out just partway into their sentence.
It has been slammed by this paper and its readers, as well as the Conservative Party in their tapestry exhibit today.
(Image: Daily Express)
The Winter Fuel Payment
Rachel Reeve’s decision to scrap the winter fuel payment as one of her first acts as Chancellor is also featured.
In the image, Ms Reeves is shown as a feudal baron, revoking the money from cold pensioners โ this paper campaigned to get the fuel payment returned to those in need.
It prompts a U-turn, the first of many, from the Chancellor and Prime Minister, at the time Ms Reeves and Sir Keir Starmer.
(Image: Daily Express)
Tax Hikes
Labour’s litany of tax hikes takes centre stage in the tapestry, reimagining the infamous arrow shot into the eye of King Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king.
In his place is the British taxpayer, shot not by a Norman archer but rather by John Healey as Andy Burnham watches on.
Tories have long attacked Labour for hiking taxes, and many fear they could go up again in the next Budget due later this month.
(Image: Daily Express)