Tieless LibDem peer leads 'quiet revolution' in the Lords, saying 'No one objected or made a scene'

Christopher Hope
Updated
Lord Scriven makes his stand in the House of Lords by speaking without a tie on
Lord Scriven makes his stand in the House of Lords by speaking without a tie on

A Liberal Democrat peer has said that he has led a "quiet revolution" in Parliament by speaking in the House of Lords without wearing a tie.

Lord Scriven removed his tie and spoke in the chamber on Wednesday evening.

He was following a precedent set by his Lib Dem colleague in the House of Commons Tom Brake MP.

The peer told the Telegraph: "I was happy to lead the quiet revolution of bringing the Lords a little more in line with modern Britain. No one objected or made a scene. We just got on with the job. 

"I am pleased with the mature way the House handled it. We have far more pressing issues to deal with  for the future of the country than to argue about a piece of silk round a man's neck."

Traditionalist Tory MPs and peers have been appalled by the fall in sartorial standards.

Lord Tebbit says Lord Scriven should be "debagged" for removing his tie in the Lords
Lord Tebbit says Lord Scriven should be "debagged" for removing his tie in the Lords

Lord Tebbit, the former Conservative Cabinet minister, told The Telegraph tonight:"It is the exhibition of a silly little man trying to attract attention to himself, he deserves to be de-bagged."

Speaker John Bercow appalled many Tories when he ruled that ties were not longer required to be worn in the chamber of the House of Commons earlier this month.

Mr Bercow made his ruling - already dubbed 'tiegate' - after Tom Brake, a LibDem MP, asked a question in the House of Commons without wearing tie earlier this week.

Lord Scriven, a former leader of Sheffield City Council and entrepreneur, has campaigned behind the scenes to be allowed to appear tieless in the Lords for the past six months.

Earlier this year he was told by Lord Fowler, the Lord Speaker, that it was “down to the whole House of Lords to decide” whether male peers can remove ties in the chamber.