The first vote was certainly conclusive, but the consequences so devastating that those with an eye on the broader interests of unity and equality have decided to hold a second ballot.

Beleaguered supporters of Britain remaining in the EU must take heart this morning from the actions of Muirfield golf course, which has announced it is to hold another vote on allowing female members to join the clubonly weeks after members rejected the proposal.

In May, a postal ballot of members of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which runs the course, one of Scotland’s last remaining men-only clubs, returned 64% for and 36% against widening the membership, falling just short of the two-thirds majority required for the club to alter its constitution.

The decision attracted worldwide condemnation and resulted in Muirfield, a favoured retreat of Edinburgh’s judiciary, forfeiting its right to hold the prestigious Open championship.

The club announced on Monday morning it was “seeking a fresh ballot of its membership on admitting women as members of the club”.

The club’s committee had supported allowing female members and will propose another postal ballot before the end of 2016 at a special general meeting of members.

The club’s captain, Henry Fairweather, said approving female members would repair the serious damage to the club’s reputation.



He said: “A substantial majority of our members voted for change and many have voiced their disappointment with the ballot result and with subsequent events. The club committee believes that a clear and decisive vote in favour of admitting women as members is required to enable us to begin the task of restoring the reputation of the club that has been damaged by the earlier ballot outcome.”

Politicians and leading golfers criticised the club’s decision in May and urged another ballot. The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers was founded in 1744 and is said to be the oldest recorded golf club in the world. It set down the original rules of golf in 1744 and has hosted the Open 16 times. The course last hosted the prestigious tournament in 2013 but will be unable to do so again until it changes its membership rules.

Nicola Sturgeon, the first female first minister of Scotland, described the vote to continue excluding women members as indefensible. At the time of the first ballot, she encouraged the club to revisit the issue, saying: “I understand and accept that, as a private club, it is for Muirfield to decide on its membership – but at a time when Scotland is a country where women can get to the top in politics, law, business and other fields, this sends the wrong signal.”