George Osborne ‘thought Peter Thiel’s Bayeux tapestry visit would be secret’
British Museum chair tells Big Brue festival he thought no one would find out about the private viewing
TL;DR
- George Osborne organized a private viewing of the Bayeux Tapestry for Peter Thiel at the British Museum.
- Osborne, chair of the museum, believed the viewing would not become public.
- Peter Thiel is the founder of PayPal and Palantir, a software company with UK public contracts, including one with the NHS.
- Concerns have been raised about Palantir's work with military and immigration agencies.
- Osborne stated Thiel had not offered money and that any offer would be assessed for financial benefits and reputational risks.
- Osborne defended the museum's reliance on corporate donations, arguing that rejecting funds from companies like BP would force the museum to close.
- He noted that protests at the museum have largely shifted from climate issues to the conflict in Gaza and support for the Israeli government.