It simply is not true to say, as many are claiming, that it would have been “unthinkable” for MPs not to wear ties in the chamber of the House of Commons until perky John Bercow gave them permission last week.

When I sat in the press gallery in the early 1980s, a Labour MP called Harry Cohen was usually tieless. His career came to an ignominious end in 2010 after it emerged that he had claimed £104,701 as a second-home allowance for what was, in fact, his first home. Another character who was frequently open-necked in those days was a young revolutionary with a beard. He is now the leader of the Labour Party.

Such men were tolerated. Matters became stricter after the introduction of television cameras to the House in 1989. Until then, MPs had often slept openly in the Chamber, written letters and put their feet up on the benches in front of them. Many of them used to reel in drunk for the “wind-up” before 10pm. Such actions – all perfectly acceptable to a House which understands its own rules – did not look so good when watched by millions. There was a tendency to smarten up for the cameras. Ties were part of this.