Waverley Conservative councillor Michael Goodridge has denied making a barbed comment to deputy leader Paul Follows about his attire at a recent full council meeting.

Cllr Follows reacted angrily to a comment from Mr Goodridge that as Conservative Whip on the council, part of his job was to "ensure all my councillors are smartly dressed at council meetings."

The remark was seen by Cllr Follows as a personal attack, and he shot back that he had spent nine hours on Zoom in council meetings that day, and that those who vioted for him "...don't care whether I'm wearing a tie or not while I'm doing it."

But Cllr Goodridge has told Godalming Nub News that the remark wasn't addressed particularly at Cllr Follows.

"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," he said.