Official complaint being lodged over 'lanyard gate' as councillor says it was worn to clearly identify herself
The leader of the council says a process will now be followed
Last updated 28th Aug 2025
An Exeter Conservative councillor says she will not resign despite claims that wearing her official city council lanyard as she joined an anti-asylum hotel protest breached a crucial code of conduct.
Alison Sheridan (Con, St Loyes) was pictured during a protest outside a hotel near Exeter Airport at the weekend, draped in a Union Flag and clearly wearing her ID lanyard.
Green councillors say that was a breach of the code of conduct, and have lodged an official complaint as a result. There has also been a complaint from an Exeter anti-racism group.
Cllr Phil Bilayk, the leader of the labour-run authority, said: "Here in Exeter we have no asylum seekers in hotels, we are accomodating them properly.
"East Devon has obviosuly got their plan. As for so-called 'lanyard gate' that will take its course within the council."
Cllr Sheridan said she wore the lanyard in order to be ‘transparent and open’ about her presence at the protest.
Police kept watch as a group of people with flags, home-made placards and a loudhailer staged their protest against the use of the hotel for asylum seekers.
They were met by a larger group from the Stand Up To Racism Exeter group, some holding placards saying ‘Refugees Welcome Here’. There have been similar protests and counter-protests at the hotel throughout August.
Green councillors say they will complain to Exeter City Council’s solicitor over Cllr Sheridan’s behaviour, saying that she had brought the council into disrepute.