A Wiltshire town councillor has become an unexpected internet sensation after his appearance in a cravat during the parliamentary grilling of former Foreign Office civil servant Olly Robbins. Andrew Edwards, who owns a large collection of neckwear, was visible behind Robbins throughout the two-and-a-half-hour session of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Tuesday.
Edwards, a regular attendee of committee hearings and court cases for over 20 years, said he wears cravats to keep his shirt collar clean. “I’m a sad person. They save the dirt around your neck from getting on to your shirt collar. I like to have my collars white and smart,” he explained. His collection includes many colours, with red, blue and green among his favourites.
Despite being in the company of high-profile figures such as Alastair Campbell, Boris Johnson and Prince Harry, Edwards said he has never been denied entry to events. He attends hearings in person to stay fully informed and to avoid distractions at home. “I don’t watch them from home because you would want to do the ironing or some other work and you wouldn’t get to focus on what was being said,” he said.
Edwards was unimpressed by Robbins’s performance, criticising his posture. “Absolutely terrible. The first job is to sit up straight, because that gives you ownership of the room,” he said. He advised Robbins to “sit up straight, focus on us and keep your answers as succinct as possible.”
Surprised by the attention he has received, Edwards emphasised the importance of dressing smartly for such events. “If you look smarter, it enables you to engage better,” he said. He encouraged others to attend local government meetings to see public service in action.
