Reform UK councillors in Warwickshire have come under fire after approving a controversial £150,000 plan to hire political advisers, despite campaigning on promises to slash council waste and deliver fiscal responsibility.
The proposal, brought forward by 19-year-old council leader George Finch, was narrowly approved during a tense council meeting that drew public protests. The move sparked accusations of hypocrisy, as opposition parties claimed Reform had betrayed its voter pledges by allocating taxpayer funds for partisan roles.
Critics argued the advisers were unnecessary, with Liberal Democrat deputy leader George Cowcher branding the plan an unjustifiable expense in the face of financial pressures. Green Party councillor Sam Jones said the decision showed Reform’s disregard for the will of its supporters, accusing the party of prioritising political gain over public interest.
Finch defended the recruitment of one adviser for each of the council’s three largest parties—Reform UK, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats—saying it complied with legislation and mirrored practices in other councils. Fellow Reform councillor Michael Bannister described the plan as value for money, asserting that funding would be reallocated from existing resources.
However, Reform UK faced a separate setback during the same session when a Green Party motion reaffirming the council’s 2019 climate emergency declaration passed with cross-party support. The motion acknowledged scientific consensus on climate change and urged continued environmental action, despite resistance from Reform members.
Reform’s credibility was further strained by a recent dispute over Finch’s attempt to remove a Pride flag from council headquarters before the end of Pride month, a request that was refused by the council’s chief executive.
Outside the council chambers, demonstrators voiced concern over the direction of Reform UK’s policies, with placards and speeches decrying what they saw as divisive rhetoric and environmental backsliding.
The controversy highlights growing tensions between Reform UK’s electoral messaging and its conduct in office, raising broader questions about the party’s governance approach at the local level.
