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| Revolt at the Reform Club after new chief brings in raft of changes | Revolt at the Reform Club after new chief brings in raft of changes |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| It is one of London’s grandest clubs, founded 180 years ago by a group of Whig and Radical MPs. | It is one of London’s grandest clubs, founded 180 years ago by a group of Whig and Radical MPs. |
| Past members include prime ministers (Winston Churchill, Lloyd George), novelists (EM Forster and Henry James) and writers of detective fiction (Arthur Conan Doyle). Current members are diplomats, peers, academics, lawyers. Plus the bloke next door: the Prince of Wales. | Past members include prime ministers (Winston Churchill, Lloyd George), novelists (EM Forster and Henry James) and writers of detective fiction (Arthur Conan Doyle). Current members are diplomats, peers, academics, lawyers. Plus the bloke next door: the Prince of Wales. |
| But the Reform Club in Pall Mall – once synonymous with enlightened causes – is now at the centre of a bitter internal row. It follows the election of a new chairman, Hitesh Tailor, who – ironically enough – has tried to reform the way the club is run. | But the Reform Club in Pall Mall – once synonymous with enlightened causes – is now at the centre of a bitter internal row. It follows the election of a new chairman, Hitesh Tailor, who – ironically enough – has tried to reform the way the club is run. |
| Tailor’s choice of candidate for the job of club secretary has triggered a huge revolt. A group of members led by the Tory peer Richard Balfe is seeking to have the selection process rerun. They are calling for an extraordinary general meeting. They have circulated a letter to members asking for support. | Tailor’s choice of candidate for the job of club secretary has triggered a huge revolt. A group of members led by the Tory peer Richard Balfe is seeking to have the selection process rerun. They are calling for an extraordinary general meeting. They have circulated a letter to members asking for support. |
| “We believe the process has been inadequate and inappropriate,” Balfe writes, describing the Reform as “our great club”. | “We believe the process has been inadequate and inappropriate,” Balfe writes, describing the Reform as “our great club”. |
| Meanwhile, several staff who keep the Grade I-listed building going have recently quit. One has blamed “egotistical management” and a clash over whether it is more important to carry out planned repairs or to hang paintings in the gents’ toilets. | |
| The club’s ruling body – the general committee or GC – is itself bitterly divided. The GC is made up of 15 members elected every year by popular ballot. | The club’s ruling body – the general committee or GC – is itself bitterly divided. The GC is made up of 15 members elected every year by popular ballot. |
| The row began in January when members voted in Tailor as GC chairman. Tailor was elected against the convention that a chairman serves two years in the job, with his predecessor Richard Lewis voted out. | The row began in January when members voted in Tailor as GC chairman. Tailor was elected against the convention that a chairman serves two years in the job, with his predecessor Richard Lewis voted out. |
| Tailor’s critics claim he is an aloof and abrasive leader. His supporters say he has merely tried to improve corporate governance practices. Those who do not like his management style are a small and vexatious bunch of “chronic complainers”, they add. | Tailor’s critics claim he is an aloof and abrasive leader. His supporters say he has merely tried to improve corporate governance practices. Those who do not like his management style are a small and vexatious bunch of “chronic complainers”, they add. |
| Nevertheless, in August the Reform’s facilities manager, Alan Hinton, became the latest staff member to quit. Hinton had overseen a huge restoration of the club’s Italianate palazzo clubhouse, with the sumptuous saloon and library repainted at a cost of £4m. | Nevertheless, in August the Reform’s facilities manager, Alan Hinton, became the latest staff member to quit. Hinton had overseen a huge restoration of the club’s Italianate palazzo clubhouse, with the sumptuous saloon and library repainted at a cost of £4m. |
| In a blistering letter of resignation, seen by the Guardian, Hinton said he was “unhappy and disillusioned”. He said he could no longer work in an environment he claimed had an “overpowering, self-destructive and egotistical management structure”. | In a blistering letter of resignation, seen by the Guardian, Hinton said he was “unhappy and disillusioned”. He said he could no longer work in an environment he claimed had an “overpowering, self-destructive and egotistical management structure”. |
| “There is a ‘hardcore’ number of members of staff who love the Reform Club, the building, the traditions and values it represents. I am not eloquent enough to put into words the pain and frustration we feel when we see petty politics tearing the club apart,” he wrote. | “There is a ‘hardcore’ number of members of staff who love the Reform Club, the building, the traditions and values it represents. I am not eloquent enough to put into words the pain and frustration we feel when we see petty politics tearing the club apart,” he wrote. |
| According to Hinton, staff morale was “at an all-time low”. He said he was sad to witness “the slow, painful and totally avoidable decline” of an institution to which he had dedicated six years of his life now in the hands of a “ruling junta”. His colleagues were “frustrated and scared”, he said. | According to Hinton, staff morale was “at an all-time low”. He said he was sad to witness “the slow, painful and totally avoidable decline” of an institution to which he had dedicated six years of his life now in the hands of a “ruling junta”. His colleagues were “frustrated and scared”, he said. |
| Hinton declined to comment. Paul Austin, from the club’s general office, said: “As a private members’ club it’s our policy never to discuss our internal matters with the media.” | Hinton declined to comment. Paul Austin, from the club’s general office, said: “As a private members’ club it’s our policy never to discuss our internal matters with the media.” |
| This week’s letter by Balfe claims the club has ended up paying “around half a million pounds” after the two previous club secretaries resigned. The last one, a former Falklands helicopter pilot, left last year on the grounds of ill health. | This week’s letter by Balfe claims the club has ended up paying “around half a million pounds” after the two previous club secretaries resigned. The last one, a former Falklands helicopter pilot, left last year on the grounds of ill health. |
| The controversy concerns the selection of a replacement. An executive search company run by Richard Evans – a GC member and Tailor ally – drew up a shortlist of five candidates. An internal panel then offered the job to a retired naval officer, Lt Cmdr Rodney Craig. | |
| Balfe and other GC members say the process lacked transparency. They want it rerun. Others say it was perfectly fair. Evans declined to comment, emailing: “We never discuss our internal matters with the media.” | Balfe and other GC members say the process lacked transparency. They want it rerun. Others say it was perfectly fair. Evans declined to comment, emailing: “We never discuss our internal matters with the media.” |
| Meanwhile, Tailor’s name appears in the Panama Papers in connection with an offshore company, Polyver Inc, set up in 2008. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing and Tailor says he has no connection with any Panama company and no idea why he features in the leaked database. The company – set up by a friend of Tailor’s who works as a Swiss lawyer – was struck off in 2012. The lawyer said he had no recollection of involving Tailor in his company at any time. It is not illegal to own offshore companies. | |
| The Reform Club was founded in 1836 and became the HQ of the new Liberal party. In keeping with its progressive traditions, in 1981 it became one of the first gentleman’s clubs to admit women. These days it is not associated with any political party. Its 2,600 members pay fees of about £1,500 a year. | The Reform Club was founded in 1836 and became the HQ of the new Liberal party. In keeping with its progressive traditions, in 1981 it became one of the first gentleman’s clubs to admit women. These days it is not associated with any political party. Its 2,600 members pay fees of about £1,500 a year. |
| Critics claim the club’s finances have been poorly managed. According to one estimate, it has lost £865,000 on catering over the past five years. Others point out the Reform is in “surplus” overall, and say the critics cannot read a balance sheet properly. They add that the dinners held in a splendid mahogany room offer good value for money. “The food has got better,” one noted. | Critics claim the club’s finances have been poorly managed. According to one estimate, it has lost £865,000 on catering over the past five years. Others point out the Reform is in “surplus” overall, and say the critics cannot read a balance sheet properly. They add that the dinners held in a splendid mahogany room offer good value for money. “The food has got better,” one noted. |
| This is not the first time the Reform has found itself engulfed by civil war. In 2012 a previous chairman Hugh Colver, a former Tory party spin doctor, fell out with the club secretary Michael McKerchar. McKerchar left after a six-figure payout. | This is not the first time the Reform has found itself engulfed by civil war. In 2012 a previous chairman Hugh Colver, a former Tory party spin doctor, fell out with the club secretary Michael McKerchar. McKerchar left after a six-figure payout. |
| This war, however, appears to be particularly bitter. An anonymous letter sent to the Guardian last week, and signed “a sad and angry member”, alleged that the club had long suffered from a culture of bullying. A few members bullied the club’s 100-strong staff, the letter claimed. This had created a “toxic atmosphere below stairs”. | This war, however, appears to be particularly bitter. An anonymous letter sent to the Guardian last week, and signed “a sad and angry member”, alleged that the club had long suffered from a culture of bullying. A few members bullied the club’s 100-strong staff, the letter claimed. This had created a “toxic atmosphere below stairs”. |
| “While the bullying culture remains rampant ‘above stairs’ and the chairman and committee refuses to tackle it, the club is a pretty grim place to be,” the letter alleged. | “While the bullying culture remains rampant ‘above stairs’ and the chairman and committee refuses to tackle it, the club is a pretty grim place to be,” the letter alleged. |
| “It is ironic that a place which was founded in the spirit of Reform, promotes equality and makes a new members pledge to ‘uphold the principles of Reform” is sadly lacking in reforming zeal when it comes to handling workplace relations. | “It is ironic that a place which was founded in the spirit of Reform, promotes equality and makes a new members pledge to ‘uphold the principles of Reform” is sadly lacking in reforming zeal when it comes to handling workplace relations. |
| “Pall Mall is back in the dark ages!” | “Pall Mall is back in the dark ages!” |
| News of the Reform’s woes were “now spreading through Clubland”, the letter claimed. The management’s priorities were “entertaining celebrity guests, organising balls and dinners” and “spending the members’ money on buying quasi-historic artefacts”, it said. | News of the Reform’s woes were “now spreading through Clubland”, the letter claimed. The management’s priorities were “entertaining celebrity guests, organising balls and dinners” and “spending the members’ money on buying quasi-historic artefacts”, it said. |
| Supporters of the current management have rubbished the letter’s claims. They say Tailor has brought in a new rule allowing staff to complain about members. Previously, this was deemed unnecessary on the grounds that all members were gentlemen. | Supporters of the current management have rubbished the letter’s claims. They say Tailor has brought in a new rule allowing staff to complain about members. Previously, this was deemed unnecessary on the grounds that all members were gentlemen. |
| Other members, however, said they were unaware of any disputes inside the club. One said he had joined because of the Reform’s “excellent library” and for the chance to mingle with fellow professionals. The Reform is home to ex-politicians including Roy Hattersley, Betty Boothroyd and the former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell. | Other members, however, said they were unaware of any disputes inside the club. One said he had joined because of the Reform’s “excellent library” and for the chance to mingle with fellow professionals. The Reform is home to ex-politicians including Roy Hattersley, Betty Boothroyd and the former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell. |
| The club was trying hard to attract younger people, the member said. The price of wine had gone up after members “drank the old stock”, he said. Overall, he added, the Reform offered a positive experience in “one of the most splendid buildings” of any West End club. | The club was trying hard to attract younger people, the member said. The price of wine had gone up after members “drank the old stock”, he said. Overall, he added, the Reform offered a positive experience in “one of the most splendid buildings” of any West End club. |
| Another longstanding member said: “The Reform is not an old gentleman’s club where you have a bottle of claret at lunch and fall asleep in the afternoon under a copy of the Times. Despite the current difficulties and backbiting, it has a hugely impressive list of social events and societies.” | Another longstanding member said: “The Reform is not an old gentleman’s club where you have a bottle of claret at lunch and fall asleep in the afternoon under a copy of the Times. Despite the current difficulties and backbiting, it has a hugely impressive list of social events and societies.” |