The Garrick Club, a prestigious men-only establishment in London founded in 1831, is at the center of a growing controversy over its exclusionary membership policy. Boris Johnson, defending the club, emphasized its value as a British institution and suggested, 'Let's all calm down, and stop the madness' for those opposed to its rules, advising them to seek membership elsewhere. The debate intensified as at least four judges resigned from the club following backlash over its men-only policy, with critics, including Harriet Harman and members within the club, arguing that the policy reinforces privilege and is out of date. Supporters claim the club's tradition of male-only membership is a matter of personal freedom and express fear of public shaming for defending the policy, with some members stating, 'It’s supposed to be a club where you can meet some of the most interesting people of your time and in due course that will inevitably include also women'. The controversy has sparked a broader discussion on single-sex private members clubs and their place in modern society, amidst reactions from lawyers and concerns over being 'named and shamed' in the Guardian.
I’m a Garrick member. The exclusion of women is the opposite of liberal. It is out of date and wrong | Simon Jenkins https://t.co/mpmI7AHXnx
Founded in 1831, the Garrick Club, one of Britain’s oldest men’s clubs, has long guarded its membership list closely. A leak this month caused a scandal. https://t.co/Y1EJXjBUEL
👩🏽⚖️ | How objectional is it that women are barred as members of The #Garrick Club? This point surfaces every few years - here's what one female barrister wrote for us back in 2015... https://t.co/XOyqTne9KG
‘No women allowed’ The powerful membership of UK’s men-only Garrick Club https://t.co/7EPJuT3yDK https://t.co/QNoWdWr30c
Inside the Garrick, the Men-Only London Club Rocked by Criticism - “These members say they go to the Garrick to drink wine, unwind and enjoy themselves. They crack jokes they wouldn’t make in mixed company.” All that needs to be said….! https://t.co/zwO2AKVgIK
🔴 Four senior judges resign from Garrick Club amid men-only membership row https://t.co/Dl5gYm7CH2
Very few members of the Garrick Club have been willing to publicly defend the men-only membership policy, as they appear to be terrified of being "named and shamed" in the Guardian. Here I defend the policy for them: https://t.co/HicEezWHcZ
Very few members of the Garrick have been willing to publicly defend the club's men-only membership policy, as they appear to be terrified of being "named and shamed" in the Guardian. Here I defend the policy for them: https://t.co/HicEezWHcZ
In recent days, The Guardian has been on the warpath against the Garrick – a London gentleman's club with a men-only membership policy. But the anti-Garrick arguments don't stack up, argues Noah Carl. https://t.co/CFPWU7t4w4
Judges didn’t see what the fuss over Garrick Club was about – they do now https://t.co/RoY5jqMHtR
At least four judges have resigned from the Garrick Club as a storm grows over its men-only membership policy https://t.co/uJWViBGwtY
Judges now resigning from the Garrick. It may well be a good idea to admit women — it may not be. But it should be up to the members. Panicking at every concocted campaign in the partisan press is such a terrible way to run an organisation! https://t.co/okc9JuDZjH
At least four judges resign from men-only Garrick Club after backlash https://t.co/n3vLixfpGd
'He Will Never Get Instructions From Me': Lawyers React to Garrick Club Revelations https://t.co/y2gv2hGHb3
With all of this discussion about the Garrick Club I am reminded of the words of the late, great Groucho Marx, who is said to have remarked; “I wouldn’t want to be a member of a club that would have me as a member.”
‘It’s supposed to be a club where you can meet some of the most interesting people of your time and in due course that will inevitably include also women’ says member of the Garrick…’ in due course’ 🤯 ‘Wait - are we the baddies?’ Says another..’ as penny drops.. https://t.co/aFGIOBtKoQ
“Men are not the underdogs, they are getting together to reinforce their privilege.” @HarrietHarman and @toadmeister discuss the validity of the Garrick and the existence of single-sex private members clubs. #TimesRadio | @ayeshahazarika https://t.co/ye3Qg6sgmR
BORIS JOHNSON: Is it really so abominable to belong to an all-male club like the Garrick? We've got to stop the madness of trying to bleach out all that's odd and eccentric in society https://t.co/TFnH6Z0iCC https://t.co/3GKPi5yvVw
'Let's all calm down, and stop the madness - the Garrick is a great club and a wonderful British institution, and if people don't like its rules, there are plenty of other clubs they can join' ✍️ Boris Johnson