Cornwall councillors debate whether ‘chairman’ should be replaced with gender neutral language
A lengthy and, at times, passionate debate unfolded at Lys Kernow in Truro as Cornwall councillors considered whether the continued use of the word “chairman” in council business is sexist and should be replaced with more gender neutral language.
The issue was raised at the Cornwall Council constitution and governance committee on Tuesday, following a request from Liberal Democrat councillor Ruth Gripper.
Although unable to attend the meeting, a statement from Cllr Gripper was read aloud. She said that during her induction after being elected in May, repeated references to the “chairman” of committees stood out.
“What that said to me, quite clearly, is the council assumes that a committee chair is always a man,” she said. “That is not the case in practice, but surely our official language should reflect that.”
She added that while the issue might appear minor, it sent a broader message about expectations and assumptions surrounding leadership roles within the council.
Mixed views across the chamber
Fellow Liberal Democrat Nicky Chopak, who currently chairs a committee, said she preferred the term “chair”.
“We look carefully at our language at Cornwall Council,” she said. “We have discussed gendered terms before, and for me, ‘chair’ works in every respect.”
Reform UK councillor Kevin Towill said the issue was not one that troubled him greatly but agreed that “chair” sounded more natural than “chairperson”.
Cornish Independent Non aligned Group councillor Rob Parsonage also backed the use of “chair”, suggesting individuals could still choose how they wished to be addressed.
Independent councillor Mike Thomas argued flexibility was key, recalling past colleagues who actively preferred the title “chairman”.
“I think it should be up to the person chairing the meeting to make clear how they wish to be addressed,” he said.
Strong opposition and legal constraints
Conservative councillor Jane Pascoe opposed any change, saying she had previously held senior roles and was always content to be called chairman.
“The definition of chairman is the person presiding over a meeting,” she said. “We are getting into troubled waters here when there are far more important issues to deal with.”
Her party colleague Connor Donnithorne said he understood why the issue had been raised but cautioned against enforcing language changes within the council’s constitution.
Green Party councillor Drew Creek argued strongly for reform, saying “chairman” was clearly gendered language that defaulted to male authority.
“It is not inclusive and feels outdated,” he said. “I would be far more comfortable with ‘chair’.”
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Fellow Green councillor Karen La Borde said the term conferred an implied superiority and no longer reflected modern values.
A compromise decision
Committee vice chair Jordan Rowse highlighted a key legal barrier. He explained that the Local Government Act 1972 legally requires the use of the word “chairman” in certain contexts, meaning the council cannot remove it entirely from its constitution.
Instead, he proposed that “chair” and “chairman” be used interchangeably wherever possible, while retaining the statutory term where legally required.
Reform councillor Jack Yelland questioned whether the debate was productive given the legal limitations, suggesting it should remain a matter of personal preference.
At the close of the discussion, Cllr La Borde expressed surprise that so many councillors still viewed “chairman” as neutral, arguing that Cornwall Council should lead by example at a time when women remain underrepresented in politics.
The committee ultimately agreed unanimously on a compromise recommendation. Where legislation refers to “chairman”, the council will interpret this as “chair” for equality and diversity purposes, except where the statutory term must be used to remain legally compliant.
