Of course, paying a compliment to some nice-looking ladies is a no-no in certain circles.
Tommy Taylor has built his 32-year career as a local councillor around speaking his mind.
So when he saw a photograph of some female colleagues looking particularly pretty, he had no hesitation in describing them as 'three nice bits of stuff'.
Unfortunately, his fellow councillors didn't see the remark as a compliment. Far from it.
Mr Taylor, the Liberal Democrat leader of Wear Valley District Council in Country Durham, has been summoned to appear before the council to explain his comments and issue an apology.
A motion drawn up by his opponents claims his assessment of the officers at a committee meeting in March has brought the local council into disrepute.
Last night, Mr Taylor refused to apologise and insisted he had done nothing wrong.
'We are Geordies up here and that's the way we should stay,' he said. 'There's no need for airs and graces up here. If you think a woman's attractive and a cracking bit of stuff then why not tell them that?
'It was meant as a compliment. The three women in the photograph are very pretty girls, anyone can see, and I was just expressing myself in Northern jargon. I've had numerous phone calls from people supporting me.'
Mr Taylor, 67, a father of two and a great-grandfather, said the row had been cooked up by two Labour opponents who were upset about a local election defeat.
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