Handford Parish Council debacle

[Kit19]

Depressing how many people in the MSM and on social media seem to find this hilarious probably because its a parish council meeting and seem to be overlooking the bullying and misogyny

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/handforth-parish-council-zoom-jackie-weaver-b1797920.html

Jackie is on WH now...

Well those men have shown themselves up to be complete childish prats haven’t they?

It's an interesting insight into the dynamics of local politics. Dominated by entitled, aggressive, misogynist males.

In this case the dispute seems to have been over management and authority, and it was easy to imagine how intimidating it must have been for the woman (who had been brought in from outside the council) as arbitrator. How distressing and impossible would it be for a woman facing that level of anger, and worse, if the dispute was over a women's rights issue she had raised - for example - unisex facilities or the use of a council meeting room for a women's rights meeting? especially if the council happened to be in west yorkshire

I saw this earlier. They behaved appallingly. Regardless of any rules surely they could have discussed it in a more civilised manner.

The WH coverage was everything I dreaded WH would become. The opener was a cheery 'has lockdown got to you like it has this chap?" Nothing about the sexist bullying behaviour shown.

Jackie as a member of council staff rather than a parish councillor had to me diplomatic... Anita Rani wouldn't have even mentioned the work sexism/men's behaviour were it not for the two comments sent in.

@AbsintheFriends

It's an interesting insight into the dynamics of local politics. Dominated by entitled, aggressive, misogynist males.

In this case the dispute seems to have been over management and authority, and it was easy to imagine how intimidating it must have been for the woman (who had been brought in from outside the council) as arbitrator. How distressing and impossible would it be for a woman facing that level of anger, and worse, if the dispute was over a women's rights issue she had raised - for example - unisex facilities or the use of a council meeting room for a women's rights meeting? especially if the council happened to be in west yorkshire

Totally agree with this.

I'd love it if Jackie became the new, positive replacement for the Karen shite though. The fact is, Karen in this country has just become a synonym for 'difficult woman, and Jackie shows beautifully why women need to be 'difficult'!

If you’ve ever been on a committee, including a parish council which is just a glorified committee, then this is exactly what it’s like. Lots of sniping and backbiting and rudeness, and arguing about minor issues. Unfortunately most people aren’t interested in joining the parish council because it takes up your time and in most cases you don’t get paid, so they end up co-opting half a dozen “civic minded” people who don’t need to be elected because nobody is standing against them.

Also I notice that the only people who stuck up for the clerk and asked for her to be shown respect were the female councillors. The clerk is the only person who is actually employed by the council and has any training in local government, the others are civilians who are supposed to represent their fellow parishioners.

It was appalling behaviour. No wonder Parish Councils have trouble finding people.

I have been along to quite a few of my local Parish Council meetings. Thankfully, they have always been civilised and good humoured in spite of what they put up with.

FFS! really what is the point of womans hour these days?

they could have done a whole piece of bullying and misogyny at work but instead they turned it into "hahaha gosh arent zoom meetings funny?"

there seems to be an accepted view that things like Parish Councils, Boards of Trustees or committees that run e.g. local sports or community facilities arent 'proper' things and people can behave however they like because it doesnt matter

I dunno she comes across as the only sane one amongst them (there's another woman who is also quite sensible) and the men just look pathetic. They're quite rude to each other as well so it's not only misogyny. I think it just shines a light on how a little bit of responsibility for some men translates into a ridiculous notion of power. They are ludicrous.

the men just look pathetic

They do, now it has been exposed to wide public scrutiny. But how many men are behaving like this and getting away with it because councils, boards, management committees etc are largely made up of men who either actively enable it or simply accept it as they see it as the unproblematic norm?

exactly Abs! this kind of behaviour - aggression, belligerence, shouting is seen as fine in men and men still dominate these kinds of bodies

the average parish councillor is 59 & male
www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Councillors'%20Census%202018%20-%20report%20FINAL.pdf
the average charity trustee is 61 and male
www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/who-sits-on-the-typical-trustee-board.html

I would have been very interested if the sex of the roles had been switched and it had been a woman shouting at Jack the parish clerk. I doubt we would have been able to move for Karen memes

How wonderful that she had the ability to mute or kick those men out for behaving that way.

Would that it were always so easy.

Indeed, Barracker!

Yes Nick Ferrari presented this as highly amusing this morning too - bloody depressing. The one man was screaming at her.

I kinda want to know the proper backstory now. All I've gleaned is that the unpleasant chair hadn't attended meetings for 6 months and she'd been called in (by whom?) in her position as Chief Executive of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils to mediate? Intervene? Advise on protocol? I'm unsure.

I want to know more.

"You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver"
...

Fabulous

I'm another who didn't find it funny - how WH can take the tack of it being amusing rather than bullying is beyond me. Honestly if they can't identify blatant misogyny the whole program may as well be shut down.

I’ve just seen this.

That man was screeching like an actual 4 year old who wanted sweeties. How embarrassing for him.

@Kit19

exactly Abs! this kind of behaviour - aggression, belligerence, shouting is seen as fine in men and men still dominate these kinds of bodies

the average parish councillor is 59 & male
www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Councillors'%20Census%202018%20-%20report%20FINAL.pdf
the average charity trustee is 61 and male
www.civilsociety.co.uk/voices/who-sits-on-the-typical-trustee-board.html

I would have been very interested if the sex of the roles had been switched and it had been a woman shouting at Jack the parish clerk. I doubt we would have been able to move for Karen memes

Yup.

The 'Flatpack Democracy' movement is trying to change this... have a look, it's very interesting.

Just imagine the absolute fury of the man being kicked out of the meeting by an actual WOMAN!!! Just imagining his impotent rage makes me smile. (But also makes me sad that men can be so openly bullying)

@Barracker

I kinda want to know the proper backstory now. All I've gleaned is that the unpleasant chair hadn't attended meetings for 6 months and she'd been called in (by whom?) in her position as Chief Executive of the Cheshire Association of Local Councils to mediate? Intervene? Advise on protocol? I'm unsure.

I want to know more.

"You have no authority here, Jackie Weaver"
...

Fabulous

I think that back in August, another councillor (seems to be included in the group with the three men who all agree with each other and vote everything through) didn't turn up for a meeting which meant that they now hadn't been to meetings for over 6 months. Therefore, the clerk (a man) announced there was now a "casual vacancy".

I think this would mean that the majority of the Chairman, V-C and other councillor(s) would be gone if someone else stood in that place. So, if the new person happened to agree with the 2 women councillors and the other man (who seem to form a group of 3 as well) this would make this opposing group a group of 4. Would mean that the Chair, V-C and the other chap would now be outvoted where previously they have been in the majority with the 4th person (the one who didn't show up) or with the Chair taking the deciding vote anyway if tied 3-3.

The Chair, V-C and other councillor disagreed with this casual vacancy decision and sacked (not sure that's actually the correct terminology for what happened) the clerk for calling it back in August. He has not been reinstated yet.

Mrs Weaver stepped in for some meetings in December to give clerk advice.

Chair and then V-C and other councillor were rude as they totally disagreed that the meeting was legal and could even be called by 2 other councillors (and not the Chair).....after trying to engage for some time and staying very calm, JW put them into the waiting room.

It's all clearly a mess and, reading back earlier minutes and other meetings, those 3 (and possibly 4) councillors have ruled the roost and ridden roughshod over the other 3 councillors and the members of the public who've attended as well for some time.

Think maybe they had this coming......

Haven't listened to WH yet but also gobsmacked that so many people found this hilarious. The longer video is indeed rather funny but that initial clip of 2 blokes almost exploding with rage is anything but. I watched this unfold last night on Twitter and I keep thinking am I watching the same thing? It says A LOT about what people see as acceptable misogyny. For FS!

Thanks DavidBowiesEyeMakeUpArtist!

www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/19067927.handforth-parish-councils-jackie-weaver-clip-explained/

This explains a bit more