Meanwhile in Britain: Tiegate

There's a new heated battle raging in Britain: In parliament at least, there's a line in the sand between those who don neckties and those who don't. Britain's parliament relaxed its dress code last week so that male parliamentarians are no longer required to wear neckties in the House of Commons, provided they are in "business-like attire," reports the Evening Standard. The change was reportedly inspired by an MP who has cerebral palsy and can't wear a tie, but not all MPs are fans of dressing down. Conservative transport minister John Hayes, for instance, announced Tuesday that he would refuse questions from a male MP unless he wore a tie. The Telegraph reports three MPs went tie-free Tuesday.

Hayes was ready to intercede, though. "I do have a tie here which I'm prepared to offer" to "anyone that is sartorially challenged or inadequate," he announced. Poking fun at Hayes, Labour MP Jess Phillips later tweeted she "won't take interventions from people not wearing a feather boa." But other MPs side with Hayes, believing that eliminating neckties "reduces the esteem of parliament," per the Telegraph. They'll have to get used to open collars, though. While MPs are still "attended to by men in tights and garters," the new dress code is "in keeping with the long, slow decline of this particular item of men's clothing in the West," reports the BBC, adding the necktie has gone from a symbol of authority to one of outdated tradition. (More United Kingdom stories.)