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Garrick club members at loggerheads over vote on admitting women Garrick club members at loggerheads over vote on admitting women
(35 minutes later)
The benign atmosphere within the Garrick club’s dining rooms has been shattered this week by the fallout from the vote on whether to admit women members, which on Monday failed to win the necessary two-thirds majority required to change the club rules.The benign atmosphere within the Garrick club’s dining rooms has been shattered this week by the fallout from the vote on whether to admit women members, which on Monday failed to win the necessary two-thirds majority required to change the club rules.
Members of the Garrick, one of London’s last remaining gentlemen’s clubs, say a huge row has erupted among the usually amiable group, with unprecedented animosity developing between the 50.5% who voted in favour of allowing women to join and the minority who opposed the change.Members of the Garrick, one of London’s last remaining gentlemen’s clubs, say a huge row has erupted among the usually amiable group, with unprecedented animosity developing between the 50.5% who voted in favour of allowing women to join and the minority who opposed the change.
One of the members making the case against women at Monday’s annual general meeting was the former Conservative MP, Toby Jessel, who said it would be awkward to admit women because women’s loos would have to be built, and this would take up valuable space; he also argued that women were not suitable because they were not good at remembering jokes. One of the members making the case against women at Monday’s annual general meeting was the former Conservative MP, Toby Jessel, who said it would be awkward to admit women because women’s loos would have to be built, and this would take up valuable space. He also argued that women were not suitable because they were not good at remembering jokes.
The club’s decision has attracted widespread interest this week, because - with supreme court judges, cabinet ministers, academics, senior civil servants, diplomats, actors and journalists among its members – the Garrick remains a symbol of Britain’s still very male establishment.The club’s decision has attracted widespread interest this week, because - with supreme court judges, cabinet ministers, academics, senior civil servants, diplomats, actors and journalists among its members – the Garrick remains a symbol of Britain’s still very male establishment.
David Mayer, emeritus professor of drama at Manchester University, said he would feel ashamed to wear the club’s salmon pink and cucumber green tie in public now, because of the club’s rejection of women. “I certainly wouldn’t wear it anywhere in the company of female academics,” he said. He said he was considering whether or not to resign his membership.David Mayer, emeritus professor of drama at Manchester University, said he would feel ashamed to wear the club’s salmon pink and cucumber green tie in public now, because of the club’s rejection of women. “I certainly wouldn’t wear it anywhere in the company of female academics,” he said. He said he was considering whether or not to resign his membership.
George Pitcher said the Garrick had been “committing suicide over the past few days, both reputationally and as an institution”, in a piece for the Guardian this week.George Pitcher said the Garrick had been “committing suicide over the past few days, both reputationally and as an institution”, in a piece for the Guardian this week.
A senior judge, who said he favoured admitting women, told the AGM he hoped the issue would not lead to a rash of resignations, requesting that there should be no calls for heads on salvers.A senior judge, who said he favoured admitting women, told the AGM he hoped the issue would not lead to a rash of resignations, requesting that there should be no calls for heads on salvers.
Jeremy Paxman, who also voted in favour of women, said: “There is no shortage of salvers at the Garrick.” The broadcaster was not considering leaving the club, because he felt that the moral case (for “a pipsqueak cause”) had been won. “People are not going to resign just because some dinosaurs believe they can stop the meteorite striking the earth by wittering on about lavatories,” he said.Jeremy Paxman, who also voted in favour of women, said: “There is no shortage of salvers at the Garrick.” The broadcaster was not considering leaving the club, because he felt that the moral case (for “a pipsqueak cause”) had been won. “People are not going to resign just because some dinosaurs believe they can stop the meteorite striking the earth by wittering on about lavatories,” he said.
There was anger from some in the legal profession at the continued refusal to admit women. At least 11 QCs were among those who voted against a change. Senior barrister Dinah Rose, QC, called on judges who are members of the club to resign their club membership, on the grounds that membership of a discriminatory club was at odds with their professional commitment to equality. “How can judges justify continuing as members of Garrick? Would they belong to a club that barred Jews?” she tweeted.There was anger from some in the legal profession at the continued refusal to admit women. At least 11 QCs were among those who voted against a change. Senior barrister Dinah Rose, QC, called on judges who are members of the club to resign their club membership, on the grounds that membership of a discriminatory club was at odds with their professional commitment to equality. “How can judges justify continuing as members of Garrick? Would they belong to a club that barred Jews?” she tweeted.
How can judges justify continuing as members of Garrick? Would they belong to a club that barred Jews? https://t.co/74ZejktQQg
“One of the Garrick’s main functions for centuries has been as a place where barristers and judges can meet up and socialise. But judges are holders of public office and specifically they have a duty to uphold the principle of equality,” she said. “How is that compatible with spending time in a club that only admits men as members?”“One of the Garrick’s main functions for centuries has been as a place where barristers and judges can meet up and socialise. But judges are holders of public office and specifically they have a duty to uphold the principle of equality,” she said. “How is that compatible with spending time in a club that only admits men as members?”
Lord Neuberger, president of the supreme court, defended his membership of the club in 2010, saying it was ridiculous to suggest he went there to network. “I go there to talk to people and relax,” he said.Lord Neuberger, president of the supreme court, defended his membership of the club in 2010, saying it was ridiculous to suggest he went there to network. “I go there to talk to people and relax,” he said.
But Rose said that networking was a more subtle phenomenon. “You don’t have to be talking about work to network,” she said.But Rose said that networking was a more subtle phenomenon. “You don’t have to be talking about work to network,” she said.
Neuberger was not at Monday’s vote, but a spokesman said he was in favour of admitting women and had been “disappointed” at the result.
Because over 50% of members are now in favour of admitting women, many members expect a new vote later this year. Despite appeals for unity from the club’s president, some among the pro-women camp have called for resignations from those members who spoke out against admitting women – not because of their position, but because the tone of their arguments was unnecessarily hostile to their opponents.Because over 50% of members are now in favour of admitting women, many members expect a new vote later this year. Despite appeals for unity from the club’s president, some among the pro-women camp have called for resignations from those members who spoke out against admitting women – not because of their position, but because the tone of their arguments was unnecessarily hostile to their opponents.
“The atmosphere is furious. The speeches were so snide. Big names are considering resigning,” another member, who asked not to be named, citing club rules on not speaking out, said. He was dismayed by “a vicious, ad hominem attack” on Bob Marshall-Andrews, the former Labour MP, who proposed the motion in favour of women. “There have been calls for the club’s committee to take action – this cannot go unpunished.” “The atmosphere is furious. The speeches were so snide. Big names are considering resigning,” said another member, who asked not to be named, citing club rules on not speaking out. He was dismayed by “a vicious, ad hominem attack” on Bob Marshall-Andrews, the former Labour MP, who proposed the motion in favour of women. “There have been calls for the club’s committee to take action – this cannot go unpunished.”