Sir Lindsay Hoyle has indicated he’ll take a hard line on MPs who don’t wear ties in the Commons – reversing John Bercow’s decision that it’s not essential to do so
MPs have been ordered to smarten up if they want to speak in the House of Commons.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle suggested that he wanted men to wear ties again. Rules requiring the neckwear were ditched by John Bercow in 2017. But the Commons Speaker on Wednesday suggested male MPs will not be called to speak unless they are wearing them. He said: “I say to the Honourable Gentlemen, wear a tie or you might not catch my eye.”
Guidance for MPs has previously said wearing a jacket and tie isn’t compulsory, but it is a longstanding custom to do so. But this has been controversial over the years, with several politicians falling foul of it.
Former Speaker Mr Bercow took a more lax attitude on ties. He told MPs in 2017: “It seems to me that as long as a member arrives in the House in what might be thought to be business-like attire, the question of whether that member is wearing a tie is not absolutely front and centre stage.”
Guidance issued during his tenure stated: “There is no exact dress code. Convention has been that for men, a jacket and tie is expected; for women the equivalent level of formality should be observed.” It hasn’t always gone well though – in 2011 former Tory MP Nadhim Zahawi had to apologise after a novelty tie he was wearing started to play a tune.
Former Lib Dem MP Tom Brake famously spoke in the chamber while not wearing a tie – saying it makes Parliament “more representative of the people it serves”. He pointed out that female MPs haven’t been expected to wear a tie, writing: “Parliament discriminates against women in many ways – but this is one strange occasion where Parliament discriminates against men.”
Sir Lindsay has taken a tougher line, updating the guidance last year to say male MPs are “expected” to wear a tie, rather than “encouraged”. Longstanding Tory MP Sir John Hayes told The Telegraph: “Parliamentarians have a duty to set a sartorial example which shows respect for others and self-respect, too. Parliament is a formal place, not a hipster hangout.”
And the definitive etiquette guide, Erskine May’s Treatise on the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament, says: “It remains the custom for gentlemen members to wear jackets and ties, but the Speaker has not enforced the practice in all circumstances.”
In 2009 former Labour MP Graham Allen was told off for trying to speak while not wearing a tie. Then-Deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst told him: “It is not appropriate to address the House without being properly attired.”
