The 20-year-old Reform council leader trying to ban Pride flags

It’s been over a year since Reform UK’s George Finch became the youngest ever council leader when he took control of Warwickshire County Council. In that time, his tenure has continued to make headlines, and some locals are concerned his policies threaten to take the area backwards. “I feel like his views tarnish how our community and how our town [sees itself],” says 27-year-old Mia Andrews. The first thing that comes to mind when asked about Finch is the long-running row over the Progress Pride flag outside Shire Hall, the council headquarters. Finch, now 20, requested for the flag, which was on display outside the council building during Pride Month, to be removed last year. “That was not something I agree with,” says Andrews. The NHS worker added that she does not think his views are representative of the area. Mia Andrews believes the majority of residents want people to feel welcome in the area (Photo: Richard Nelmes) “I’d say the majority of people here would want to make everyone feel welcome, want to represent everyone and want to make everyone feel part of the community, whereas his views go against that.” Finch’s request was rejected by the council’s chief executive, Monica Fogarty. But her power to decide which flags are flown outside the headquarters was then rescinded and handed to council chairman, Reform’s Edward Harris, following a cabinet vote. The flag row, along with his public spat with Warwickshire Police’s chief constable over suggestions of a cover-up in relation to the rape of a 12-year-old girl by an Afghan asylum seeker, prompted a no-confidence call in Finch. The councillor, who narrowly survived the motion by just one vote earlier this year, has called the saga a political stunt. Months later, he appears to double down on his views. “I believe there should only be three flags: the Union flag, the county flag, and the Saint George’s flag. They’re the flags that I think should only be flying from public buildings,” he told The i Paper. George Finch with parry leader Nigel Farage after becoming leader of Warwickshire County Council in June last year (Photo: George Finch/Facebook) Asked if he was concerned that some minority communities may feel less welcome in Warwickshire, Finch said: “I support the residents of Warwickshire, of course I do, every single one of them. “Will some people not like what I say? Absolutely, and they have every right to disagree with me. I have no problem or qualm about that.” Reform is currently the largest party at Warwickshire County Council – going from zero to 22 seats in May 2025 – but it does not hold a majority. Since the election last year, the group’s councillor numbers have gone down to 17, with four defecting to Rupert Lowe’s Restore Britain party. Finch challenged those who disagree with his views to vote him out at the next election. Whatever happens in Warwickshire in the future, it appears that Finch’s career will continue. In May, he was elected the leader of another local authority – Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council. He is confident he can be “fully committed to both” roles but concerns have been raised by his critics. Warwickshire Green councillor Nicki Scott cautioned that decisions could take longer to implement while one resident saying he was “spreading himself thin”. Warwickshire town centre. Whatever happens in the country in the future, it appears that Finch’s career will continue (Photo: Richard Nelmes) ‘Everyone should just let each other live’ Another issue bothering locals in Warwickshire is Finch’s review of the area’s libraries after he expressed opposition to displays of some LGBT+ materials, claiming they promote “contested gender ideology”, and Black History Month. Neel Shah, 35, does not see the issue with the library displays, adding that “everyone should just let each other live”. “Everything can be anywhere. It’s just up to people whether they want to read it or not. They can have the same thing about like World War II history in the library. It’s up to someone if they want to look at it or not.” But Ruben Nascimento, a 45-year-old publican, agrees with calls for libraries and public places to be free from certain displays. While he is not familiar with Finch – he “wouldn’t have a clue who to vote for” in an election – Nascimento said: “There are certain areas that we should be able to go to and not have stuff rammed down our throats. “There has to be a level of neutrality somewhere.” Finch said: “I’m not banning books. The books will still be there… What I’m saying is the books will not be in promotional display cases. Public buildings should not have political persuasion.” Ruben Nascimento said he agreed with the decisions to keep public spaces such as libraries politically neutral (Photo: Richard Nelmes) ‘Making Warwickshire a less welcome place’ Dan Browne, chair of LGBT+ organisation Warwickshire Pride, worries the area is changing for the worse. “It’s definitely making Warwickshire a less welcome place for LGBTQ+ people,” he said, adding that he had noticed a link between “every time George Finch makes some kind of public statement in relation to LGBTQ+ communities and a rise in internet trolling and comments to Warwickshire Pride”. Ahead of the Warwickshire Pride festival, which took place on 22 August, Browne, an independent councillor for Warwick Town, said additional security assessments had to be carried out for the first time, and some attendees were “very anxious” about attending. When asked about how his comments and actions could affect certain communities, Finch said: “If they are affected, then they are a very, very, very small minority.” Green councillor Nikki Scott said a council officer told her they are ‘too scared’ to tell anyone they are gay, describing it like ‘being back in the closet’ (Photo: Richard Nelmes) Scott, who wears a Progress Pride flag lanyard at work, is determined to show her solidarity with the LGBT+ community. She said council officers had been coming to her with concerns that “essentially… a lot of them don’t feel safe, particularly if they are from the LGBTQ+ community or if they are people of colour”. One officer told her they are “too scared” to tell anyone they are gay, describing it like “being back in the closet”. Labour voter Christine England wishes the council would focus on other issues, such as homelessness (Photo: Richard Nelmes) Labour voter and Warwick resident Christine England said she is “not too keen” on Finch and wishes the council would focus on other issues, such as homelessness. “One thing that does worry me, slightly, is that there seem to be more and more people as well, for whatever reason, sleeping in shop doorways and so on,” said the retiree. “What I think is the council should be doing more to help people who have those kind of problems.”