Why are women in big hats going viral at the General Election?

Why are women in big hats going viral at the General Election? Mixed

Transcript

00:00Why were there so many women in big hats at the general election?

00:04Well, it's not just an opportunity to dress up.

00:07It's actually the uniform of the high sheriffs,

00:10who have gone viral on social media overnight.

00:14Also known as returning officers in elections,

00:17they're responsible for conducting local elections,

00:20including printing ballot papers,

00:22managing postal votes and declaring the results.

00:25I'm Helen Bingley, high sheriff of Lancashire.

00:28So my role here is as returning officer

00:33for the results of both Morecambe and Moonsdale

00:38and Lancaster and Wyre.

00:40And when you're the high sheriff,

00:43you are officially, legally the returning officer

00:46for most of the county.

00:49Their uniform consists of a dress, coat and wide-brim hat,

00:53complete with ostrich feathers,

00:55and they're usually passed down from other high sheriffs before them.

00:59There are currently 55 high sheriffs serving across the UK,

01:03representing each of the home counties.

01:08And I'm here tonight because I'm born in Lancaster.

01:11I live in Lancaster,

01:13and I'm just absolutely delighted to be here

01:15to give this particular result this evening.

01:18This election saw some very over-the-top headwear,

01:21so let's hope the bigger the hat, the bigger the voter turnout.