France has postponed the historic loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain, scuppered by the spectre of nationwide strikes set to engulf the country on Thursday – delivering a stinging setback for Sir Keir Starmer in the process. The 11th-century masterpiece, a sprawling embroidered chronicle of the Norman Conquest which has resided in Normandy for nearly a millennium, was due to be discreetly transferred to a secure location on September 18 ahead of its eagerly anticipated UK exhibition.
However, fears of “social unrest” have forced officials to hit the pause button, depriving the Prime Minister of what was widely billed as a triumphant post-Brexit cultural olive branch. The delay, first reported by French broadcaster BFMTV, comes amid escalating tensions in France, where unions have rallied against President Emmanuel Macron’s austerity measures. A cross-industry call to action has mobilised workers across sectors, with the Interior Ministry warning of up to 900,000 participants flooding streets nationwide.
More than 250 demonstrations are declared, surpassing the 200,000 who turned out on 10 September under the “Bloquons tout” (Block everything) banner.
In Paris alone, between 50,000 and 100,000 protesters are expected, prompting the deployment of 80,000 law enforcement officers – the largest such mobilisation since the Yellow Vests era.
Paris Police Prefect Laurent Nuñez sounded the alarm on BFMTV, revealing intelligence that “several hundred, possibly thousands” of agitators intend to “fight and destroy” during the rallies.
He said: “We have credible reports of organised violence,” urging calm but preparing for the worst.
Regional authorities are also on high alert: in Clermont-Ferrand, a stockpile of cobblestones has mysteriously appeared at Place de Jaude, fuelling suspicions of pre-planned sabotage.
Transport networks brace for chaos, with rail lines, metros, buses and even flights grinding to a halt. Tourist sites, including the Eiffel Tower and Louvre, face closures, while health services warn of reduced staffing.
For Sir Keir, the timing could hardly be worse, with his administration reeling in the face of the resignation of deputy PM Angela Rayner and US Ambassador Peter Mandelson.
The Tapestry loan, announced with fanfare during a state visit by Macron in July, promised a rare diplomatic coup.
Hailed as “a bridge across the Channel” by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, it would have seen the 70-metre relic – depicting William the Conqueror’s 1066 invasion – grace the British Museum from spring 2026, drawing millions and injecting £200 million into tourism.
Critics had already decried it as a “heritage crime” over fragility concerns, but French culture minister Rachida Dati quashed those fears last month, insisting: “It’s not too fragile to travel – it’s a symbol of our shared history.”
The postponement, confirmed by the French Interior Ministry, cites the transfer’s vulnerability to disruptions. The artefact, housed in Bayeux’s Musée de la Tapisserie since 1983 after wartime exile in Britain, requires armoured convoys and airlift for its journey.
A ministry spokesperson told Le Monde: “Security risks are too high amid the expected turmoil,” stressing that that a new date would be set “as soon as feasible”.
Express.co.uk has contacted the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for comment.