Gosport council leader sparks outrage over 'sexist' comment about the mayor and The Sun page three

The remark was made during an extraordinary full council on January 27, when members were considering the outcome of the Bridgemary by-election, which saw Reform UK win its first seat on the authority.

During the meeting, the Mayor of Gosport, Cllr Kirsten Bradley, delivered her first speech as an independent councillor after resigning from the Liberal Democrat group — a decision that has left the authority with no overall control.

In her speech, Cllr Bradley revealed she had considered leaving the Liberal Democrats as early as August 2025 but was “convinced to stay” amid warnings she could be blamed for “stopping any productivity in the town due to a hung council”.

“Of course, my votes were required,” she said.

However, she said what she described as “malice” and “hatred” surrounding the Bridgemary by-election ultimately gave her the opportunity to step away from the party.

“The by-election changed the numbers so I could then follow suit, or be left towing the party line and forced to use a casting vote to increase party power, instead of having the free choice to support the community.

“If decisions of one person are pushed upon the council and decisions are foretold and forced through, even good decisions and outcomes will never gain the trust and support of the collective group of elected members.”

Following her resignation, the political make-up of the council now stands at 13 Liberal Democrats, 11 Conservatives, two Labour councillors, one Reform UK councillor and Cllr Bradley sitting as an independent — leaving the council under no overall control.

It was after her speech that Cllr Peter Chegwyn, the leader of the council, made the comment suggesting the Mayor could end up in the Daily Mirror or The Sun, “[but] probably not on page three”.

Page Three was a long-running feature in The Sun, launched around 1970, that published photographs of topless models.

The feature was phased out in The Sun in 2015 following sustained criticism over the objectification of women. In April 2019, the Daily Star became the last UK daily newspaper to stop printing topless images.

Conservative councillor Zoe Huggins spoke afterwards in support of the mayor, congratulating her for being a “strong woman” and “someone who represents our community”.

However, Liberal Democrat councillor Julie Westerby responded to Cllr Huggins’ comment saying that the mayor “doesn’t represent me as a strong woman”.

In a Facebook post video after the meeting, Cllr Huggins said residents had witnessed “a lot of toxicity and mud throwing” directed at the now independent Mayor.

“One thing we need in politics, no matter what colour you are, is strong individuals who are resilient, and I will always stand for strong women, no matter what their ideology is.”

Ahead of the next full council meeting on March 4, Conservative councillor Lesley Meenaghan condemned the comment as sexist and objectifying.

While acknowledging that Cllr Chegwyn had apologised directly to the mayor, she called for a public apology.

She said : “Many present perceived the remark as sexist and objectifying.

“While I understand and welcome that the council leader has apologised directly to the mayor, the comment was made in a public forum and caused wider offence.

“I hope the council leader takes the opportunity at full council on Wednesday March 4, to apologise to all those who were offended by his remarks.”