Sir Keir Starmer's on
His legendary U-turns have earned him the moniker Sir Flip Flop, but his indecision is not just limited to matters of state: Sir Keir Starmer has an equally on-off relationship with his tie.
When he appeared on BBC1's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg and Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, earlier this year he donned traditional neckwear.
But he did not afford the same courtesy to ITV presenter Richard Madeley, when he was grilled over his deputy Angela Rayner's council house - even though the Good Morning Britain host was wearing a tie.
The knotty issue of Tie Gate has even reached the Commons chamber.
Seven years ago, former speaker John Bercow deemed that it was not obligatory for MPs to wear a tie if they were dressed in 'business-like attire'.
When Keir Starmer appeared on BBC1's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg earlier this year he donned traditional neckwear
But he did not afford the same courtesy to ITV presenter Richard Madeley, when he was grilled over his deputy Angela Rayner's council house
The ruling came after the Lib Dem trade and European affairs spokesman Tom Brake asked a question in the House without wearing a tie and Tory MP Peter Bone raised a point of order about the dress code.
Read More
Commons Speaker gets MPs in knots as he says they no longer have to wear TIES to ask questions in the chamber
However, last year, his successor Sir Lindsay Hoyle ruled that MPs should smarten up, amending the 'Rules of Behaviour and Courtesies in the House of Commons' from 'men are encouraged' to 'men are expected' to wear a tie.
Tory MP Sir John Hayes said at the time: 'Parliamentarians have a duty to set a sartorial example which shows respect for others and self-respect, too.
'Parliament is a formal place, not a hipster hangout.'
Certainly, Sir Keir has not got hot under the collar over the dress code in Parliament.
He always wears a tie for Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions, political conferences and parliamentary funerals.
But he appears to get tied up in knots over less formal occasions, wearing a tie to the Brighton v Arsenal football match - even Prince William has been known to dress down to watch his team Aston Villa.
Seven years ago, former speaker John Bercow deemed that it was not obligatory for MPs to wear a tie if they were dressed in 'business-like attire'
Keir Starmer always wears a tie for Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions, political conferences and parliamentary funerals
Rachel Reeves (left) and Angela Rayner (right) pose with Keir Starmer outside the campaign bus. The Labour leader does not wear a tie
According to Debrett's Rupert Wesson 'context is critical' on when you should wear a tie. 'Clearly, just because you're Prime Minister, it doesn't mean you should wear a tie everywhere,' he said. 'It's not the 1930s.
'Working on the basis you can never be overdressed, it's better to err on the side of caution and wear a tie.
'If the TV presenter is likely to be wearing a tie, it makes sense to wear a tie.'
Related articles
Israeli siblings Ron and Leah Polonsky chase Olympics from Bay Area rivals Stanford and Cal
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — With nearly identical ear-to-ear smiles, Ron and Leah Polonsky stroll throug2024-06-03At UN, China calls for aid to make it to Gaza
A Chinese envoy at the United Nations said on Tuesday that China will make "tireless" efforts to res2024-06-03Ice sculptures of Asian Winter Games mascot debuted on Central Street in Harbin
Beijing, January15 (Youth.cn) -On January 15th, 2024, in Harbin, on the Central Street in Daoli Dist2024-06-03China sends representative to continue searching for Ukraine crisis settlement
Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui will visit Russia, the E2024-06-03Giant pool inflatables, breakfast buffets... and ice
Quality time with the kids is the best thing about a family holiday for over half of British parents2024-06-03China's first domestic large cruise ship embarked on its maiden commercial voyage
Beijing, January2 (Youth.cn) -On January 1, 2024, in Shanghai, China's first domestically produced l2024-06-03
atest comment