Gosport council leader issues public apology over 'sexist' page three comment he meant as a joke
The leader of Gosport Borough Council has issued a public apology after making a remark about the town’s mayor that was criticised as sexist.
During a full council meeting on March 4, Conservative councillor Cllr Zoe Huggins said the comment made in January at a council meeting by borough leader Cllr Peter Chegwyn about the mayor, Cllr Kirsten Bradley, was not recorded in the official minutes.
She told the chamber: “Very comprehensive and accurate minutes, but I do believe something is missing, which is obviously the leader’s comment towards yourself, madam mayor, of a sexist nature. They should be accurate.
“I believe he has made an apology and I’m happy for that to be reflected in the minutes, but that should be noted. Maybe the leader might take the opportunity to apologise to everyone who was offended by that comment.”
The remark referred to a comment made by Cllr Chegwyn at the extraordinary council meeting on January 27, when he said the town’s mayor could appear in the newspaper The Sun, but “probably not on page three”.
Page Three was a long-running feature of The Sun, launched in 1970, which published photographs of topless models before being phased out in 2015 following sustained criticism over the objectification of women.
Addressing the issue, Cllr Chegwyn apologised and said the comment had been intended as a joke.
He said: “As Cllr Huggins said, I did apologise for what I thought was a joking comment that couldn’t be taken otherwise.
“I’m happy to repeat the apology tonight, which you accepted at the time. Certainly no offence was intended, but sorry.”
The comment made at the January meeting came after Cllr Bradley spoke about political tensions within the council.
She revealed that since August 2025 she had considered leaving the Liberal Democrats, but had been “convinced to stay” amid warnings she could be blamed for “stopping any productivity in the town due to a hung council”.
She also referred to what she described as “malice” and “hatred” surrounding the Bridgemary by-election, which saw Reform UK win its first seat on the council, gave her the opportunity to step down from her party and sit as an independent councillor.
It was after her speech that Cllr Chegwyn made the comment suggesting the mayor could end up in The Sun, “but probably not on page three”.