Proposed List of Honorary Alderman Rejected

Published on: 4 Nov, 2026
Updated on: 4 Nov, 2026

Guildford Honorary Alderman in procession in their red gowns at the Mayor making ceremony in 2012

A list of seven former councillors nominated to become honorary aldermen was rejected by a majority of councillors at Tuesday’s (November 3) full meeting of Guildford Borough Council .

The list comprised: Angela Gunning (former Labour group leader who had given up an earlier Hon Alderman title to resume as a councillor), Gordon Jackson, Nigel Manning and Marsha Moseley (all Conservative, former mayors and Executive members), Tony Rooth (Conservative, Independent and R4GV, former council leader), Paul Spooner (Conservative, former council leader) and Pauline Searle (Lib Dem, former mayor and Executive member).

The Conservatives on the list were all part of the administration that controversially led the adoption on the 2019 Local Plan, unpopular in many parts of the borough, during the purdah period, just days before the 2019 borough council election which saw the Conservatives heavily defeated.

Cllr Paul Spooner when leader of GBC

Paul Spooner was also censured in 2022 by the council. This followed a complaint by the editor of The Guildford Dragon NEWS who said that Spooner had brought the council into disrepute when he told a Dragon reporter to “get stuffed”. The complaint was upheld and the councillor was ordered to apologise but refused to do so.

The motion to approve the list was proposed by the leader of the Conservative group Philip Brooker (Worplesdon) and seconded by the Labour Group leader James Walsh. The meeting was advised that they could not vote on each nominee separately, the list had to be approved or rejected as a block.

Cllr Philip Brooker

Cllr Brooker said those on the list were “eminent individuals” who had made”Huge contributions…to the service of this borough.

“On the distinguished evidence before us, it will be difficult to argue against each and every one of them deserving the honour that is being proposed. I personally know them all and have worked with them, both as fellow members and fellow committee members.”

But the deputy council leader, Vanessa King (Lib Dem, Stoke) disagreed. She said, “The test for an honour of this kind should be more than years served or positions held. It should be whether a person’s contributions attract broad and enduring support. If we begin to treat long service alone as sufficient, we risk turning an exceptional honor into an ordinary one.

“This is not a criticism of every nominee, nor is it a dismissal of the public service they have given. It’s simply a recognition that honorary alderman status should be conferred only when there is a clear and widely shared consensus that it is deserved.”

Councillor King was interviewed after the meeting about her decision…

The motion was lost by 18 votes against (mainly Lib Dems and R4GV) to 13 in favour (mainly Conservatives and Labour) and three abstentions, including council leader Julia McShane (Westborough).

In a statement issued by the Liberal Democrats this morning (November 4) a spokesperson said: “The title of Honorary Alderman is a significant civic distinction intended to honour eminent service. However, several nominees remain closely associated with contentious historical decisions – including controversial policies relating to the Local Plan, major housing allocations, and strategic governance – where residents hold legitimate ongoing concerns.

“Civic honours should never be a routine administrative exercise or a rubber-stamping process.”