FOR the uninitiated, this next sentence might be a strange one to read: A clip from Handforth Parish Council’s December 2020 planning and environment committee meeting went viral yesterday (February 5). The 30-second clip, posted on Twitter by Janine Mason, has gained more than 2 million views in less than 24 hours and the original 18-minute ‘best of’ video now has in excess of 300,000 views. That prompts a few questions, like who is in the clip, what their argument is about, and just why their disagreement is so poisonous. Now, the Local Democracy Reporting Service will attempt to answer those questions. i’ve never missed in person meetings more than i did watching this parish council meeting descend into chaos pic.twitter.com/I75zi1fIK5 janine (@janinemas0n) February 4, 2021
Handforth Parish Council in Cheshire was holding an emergency planning committee meeting that kicked off
Chairman Brian Tolver clashed with Jackie Weaver who made herself the clerk and said it was illegal hearing
She clamped down and ejected Cllr Tolver after he told her her to stop talking and said: You ve no authority
Jackie Weaver is at the centre of a row between two rival factions fighting for control of the town council
She said: I m glad I was sitting not standing, my knees were shaking. No, I didn t feel as confident as I looked
Social media has today exploded with memes about the now world-famous Handforth Parish Council Zoom that descened into chaos.
Members of the council were likened to Conan the Barbarian and Lord of the Rings wizard Gandalf as Twitter users poked fun at explosive video that apearred on line, and was quickly shared to be seen by 2million people world wide.
One Twitter user compared the moment a councillor screams READ THE STANDING ORDERS, READ THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEM during the conference call to the famous THIS, IS, SPARTA scene in the Hollywood blockbuster 300 .
Another, using the same quote, compared it with an image of a famous bust-up between Newcastle team mates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer during a Premier League match in 2005.
Handforth Parish Council goes global: actors line up for biopic and merchandise goes on sale
Millions of people around the world have watched the infamous meeting amid bitter rows over power grabs and bullying
5 February 2021 • 8:30pm
Jackie Weaver who was attending the meeting to provide support in place of the clerk
Credit: Adam Hughes/SWNS
Most people would struggle to cope with becoming an overnight internet celebrity, with actors lining up to play you in a biopic and authors announcing that they were writing you into their next novel.
But Jackie Weaver, the calm convenor of the now infamous Handforth Parish Council meeting, has only one regret – she wishes that she had had her hair done.