On Cornwall Council, I chair the Constitution and Governance Committee (C&G). One of the items discussed at our first meeting of 2026, held on 6th January, related to the terminology used for the person chairing meetings. Consideration of this matter was requested by a Liberal Democrat councillor, who felt that the use of the word “Chairman” was not inclusive in this modern age. Not an unreasonable request.
We had a wide-ranging debate. It got a little bit fractious at times, but the meeting took place in a generally positive manner. The councillors present agreed a recommendation to Full Council that “Chairman” be replaced by “Chair” for the purposes of equality and diversity. It was moved by a Liberal Democrat councillor and seconded by a representative of Reform UK. It was agreed unanimously by the other voting members present at the meeting who represented the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, MK and Reform UK.
As many recommendations from C&G go to meetings of Full Council, I always extend an invitation to elected members on the authority to attend our meetings. I try my best to ensure that all members who wish to contribute to the debates can participate and have their perspective considered. In addition, I hope to ensure that subsequent debates in the main chamber can be well-informed and a good advert for the authority.
That is not what happened last week when the “Chair” motion was argued over at Full Council. The recommendation was criticised by councillors who had not bothered to attend the committee meeting, or even emailed or phoned their comments through. A number of members expressed the view that time should not be wasted on such an issue and then spent time having a lot to say about the issue! An amendment was moved and there was then considerable confusion about exactly what people were voting on.
I was personally disappointed with what happened and it was not one of Cornwall Council’s most illuminating democratic episodes.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, it was then brought to my attention that there was a post about the debate on the Facebook page for the Cornwall Councillors representing Reform UK. This post attacked Mebyon Kernow. Apparently, because I chaired the Constitution and Governance Committee, it was MK which was wasting “council time debating sexist connotations of the word chairman” and seeking to “revive frivolous identity politics …” Surprisingly, they forgot to mention that their own councillors had supported the C&G recommendation to Full Council!
Article by Cllr Dick Cole published in the Cornish Guardian (28th January 2026) and West Briton newspapers (29th January 2026)