Waverley Borough Council meeting interrupted as members argue - over a tie

Waverley councillors broke off from discussing next year's budget and council rent rises at a Waverley Full Council meeting last night to share a testy exchange - over a tie.

Binscombe councillor Nick Palmer had made a joke about Conservative whip Michael Goodridge, following a series of jibes that the Tories had been whipped to vote against two motions earlier in the meeting. Conservative counciillors had objected to the assertion, making clear that no whip had been put in place on either of the motions.

The full council meeting had in fact started on Tuesday, and had to be adjourned at 10.45pm after running for a marathon three hours and 45 minutes.

When proceedings resumed on Thursday, and during a discussion on increasing council house rents, Binscombe Labour MP Nick Palmer had quipped: "I can't resist saying that I want to extend my sympathies to the chief whip, who spoke yesterday for a group that's never whipped. What does he do all day?"

Cllr Goodridge shot back: "Firstly I'd like to thank Cllr Palmer for his sympathies, but I can assure you that I still have other things to do. I'm not totally redundant, like I ensure all my councillors are smartly dressed at council meetings."

Waverley's deputy leader, Lib Dem Paul Follows, at whom the jibe had been directed, reacted angrily a few minutes later. Apologising for the interruption to Mayor Penny Marriott, who was chairing the meeting, he said: "This is an issue I take seriously.

"On behalf of many people who see barriers to being a councillor, especially young people, from standing, I hope you don't take offence personally yourself, but after nine hours on Zoom today I have neglected my tie.

"I am fortunate of course that standing orders allow me to speak anyway. I would just ask that we perhaps all let the substance take centre stage because anything else is an insult to our officers and the work they're doing. And I'm pretty sure that most of the residents that voted for me don't care whether I'm wearing a tie or not while I'm doing it."

After the meeting Cllr Follows posted about the incident on his Facebook page, writing: That we still have a councillor using their speaking time to comment that they don't think someone is dressed appropriately in 2021 is a disgrace.

"Can I ask, are residents alright that after nine hours on Zoom today I am not wearing a tie to this council meeting this evening?"

And he attached a picture of himself at the meeting, wearing a shirt, jumper and jacket.

Labour councillor George Wilson wrote that he had taken his jacket off in sympathy later in the proceedings, while Farnham Residents councillor George Hesse added: "In the modern day era of equality of the sexes, in the same way the apparel chosen by female Members (Councillors) would not be commented on the same applies to male Members to dress as they see fit - I will never wear a tie unless I'm going to a funeral.

"To other Members who wish to wear a tie, I say feel free - stripey, polka dot, plain or jokey, suit yourselves and enjoy your ties and keep your opinion to yourselves about what other people choose to wear."

However, Mr Follows finds himself in illustrious company: South West Surrey Conservative MP Jeremy Hunt was famously told off by Commons Speaker Lyndsay Hoyle at the end of last year for failing to wear a tie during a Zoom call in which he asked a question of Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a session in the House of Commons.

Cllr Goodridge told Nub News: "What I did say was that I ensure Conservative councillors dress properly for full council meetings. No mention of ties or Councillor Follows in particular."