John Redwood doesn’t want the Bayeux Tapestry in the UK because it’s a reminder of being beaten by the Normans – 23 historic takedowns
President Macron of France is currently in the UK on a state visit. During a banquet in his honour, he announced that his country would be lending the Bayeux Tapestry, which depicts the events of the Norman conquest in 1066, to come to the UK for display at the British Museum.
We are lending Britain an iconic jewel of our shared history: the Bayeux Tapestry.
This is the first time this national treasure will leave French soil. It marks an unprecedented cultural partnership between our two countries — a powerful symbol of our Entente amicale. pic.twitter.com/5SMFfQrDG0
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) July 9, 2025
Since 1066 is probably the only date from history that everybody knows – oh, okay 1066 and 1966 – the news caused quite a stir online, with both earnest and humorous responses. Like these –
The Bayeux Tapestry is to be displayed at the British Museum, London, next year. The 70 metre long Eurppean medieval masterpiece, depicting the Norman Conquest of England, was created by a team of highly skilled women artisan embroiderers in the 11th century #WomensArt pic.twitter.com/nt4ueJb0KM
— #WOMENSART (@womensart1) July 9, 2025
Mr. Macron lends the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum. pic.twitter.com/5ZrcvUTgW7
— Maria (@MariaSlavaUA) July 9, 2025
So brave of the French to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum, good luck getting it back!!#ParthenonMarbles pic.twitter.com/AvdaZ6pqzv
— Gerry Stergiopoulos (@GerryGreek) July 8, 2025
Democracy Manifest Bayeux Tapestry pic.twitter.com/KtpweeHSsC
— Joe (@MrJoeGooch) July 9, 2025
Must. Resist. Overwhelming. Urge. To. Scratch… https://t.co/a5HvERFjkc
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) July 9, 2025
The Bayeux tapestry but it’s about that time in Big Brother where everyone mistakenly thought David Gest was dead
— Gwdihŵ (@youwouldknow) July 9, 2025
Former Tory MP John Redwood – the man who urged the government to reverse a non-existent ban on imperial measures, said that the UK could solve the water shortage by collecting and storing rain, and thought that cold weather meant that climate change isn’t real – wasn’t at all happy about the upcoming loan.
And they have the nerve to call the Left snowflakes. The resulting mockery was one in the eye for Mr. Redwood.
1.
Fuck sake it was a thousand years ago! https://t.co/ybYepsRF0c
— Clive Wismayer (@CliveWismayer) July 9, 2025
2.
Spot on! I was in Rome last year and they had a statue of the bloke who invaded England jn AD 43. ‘you insensitive b*stards’ I shouted at the local tour guides. https://t.co/PrgGjfL6oF pic.twitter.com/2ZGLCrkeKY
— Rob B (@RobBfromDerby) July 9, 2025
3.
Erm… everything alright at home John? https://t.co/iVXARgyrn1
— 〓〓 (@GavinCurnow) July 9, 2025
4.
Using modern definitions of nationalism is the wrong way to look at history. 1066 was the defeat of the Anglo-Saxon and Danish rule of England. "English" peasants were already serfs before the Conquest, don't make out it was a green and pleasant land before Hastings you tit https://t.co/NlujGMKqwr
— History Matters (@HistMatters2020) July 9, 2025
5.
So we can’t accept the Bayeux Tapestry because it’s a painful reminder of Norman oppression, but we can store Ethiopian tabots, Aboriginal remains, and thousands of looted treasures from across the globe without a flicker of national reflection?
Cool. Totally normal behaviour. https://t.co/zX04pylwOd
— Bearly Politics (@i_iratus) July 9, 2025
6.
And paintings of the battles of Waterloo and Trafalgar don’t offend you because you are on “this” side? Oh, of course, – you’re a politician! Nuff said.
— Mike Batt (@Mike_Batt) July 9, 2025
7.
Plumbing the depth of stupid. Again. Will you ever find the bottom?
— HRH BerkshireFX (@BerkshireFX) July 9, 2025
8.
You mean like the statue of Oliver Cromwell in Parliament Square reminds us of the brutal massacres of thousands at Wexford & Drogehda.
When Irish land was consficated & given to the English – and the Irish deported into slavery. https://t.co/V7TQDgHije— Clare Hepworth OBE (@Hepworthclare) July 9, 2025
9.
You poor snowflake… how distressing for you and your English mates to have endured such colonial oppression and servitude for all those many hundreds of years.
Your fortitude in the face of such a sad history is to be admired.
— Derek Mooney (@dsmooney) July 9, 2025
10.
Only a certain sort of English person gives a toss about the "Norman yoke", almost a millennium later, and *every single one* of them votes Conservative. By the way, what do we bet that John thinks black people should stop complaining about slavery, and Asian people the Empire? https://t.co/AX9H6uAvpC
— Tomos Doran (@portraitinflesh) July 9, 2025
11.
So when Egypt lends us artefacts from Tutankhamen’s tomb, it’s to remind us that London was a swamp for most of the thousands of years that Ancient Egypt’s incredible civilisation thrived?
Don’t extend your fragile narcissism to the whole country, John. Some of us actually like…
— Paul Schleifer ♻️ (@PaulSchleifer) July 9, 2025