Warwickshire County Council leader resigns, leaving 18-year-old in charge of £500 million budget

The leader of Warwickshire County Council has resigned and left his 18-year-old deputy as the interim leader, prompting condemnation from opposition parties.

Rob Howard, who will remain a councillor, said on Wednesday that his five-week tenure had been cut short by “health challenges”, which had made it impossible for him to adequately carry out the “extremely demanding role”.

His fellow Reform UK councillor, 18-year-old George Finch, will take the helm until a new leadership election is held on 22 July.

Finch will be managing a council with a £500 million budget and £1.5 billion in assets. He did not rule out running for the position permanently.

Howard was elected as the leader of a minority administration after the May local elections, in which Reform ousted the incumbent Conservatives to become the biggest party in the council with 23 seats.

His leadership bid was backed by the Conservatives, who have refused to confirm whether they will continue to support Reform.

Residents are being disrespected and disregarded. Running a council isn’t a game and must be treated with the seriousness residents deserve

Matt Western, MP for Warwick and Leamington

Finch said: “As interim leader, I will ensure that this council is in steady hands until a new leader is elected by the group so that we can deliver meaningful results for Warwickshire. Our mission to deliver for residents remains unchanged.”

As the youngest ever council leader in the UK, Finch has come under fire for his perceived lack of experience. His electoral success in May was his first under the Reform banner, having left the Conservatives after three months over their stance on illegal immigration.

Finch’s profile on the New Reformer website highlights his time as a Youth Councillor for Nuneaton and Bedworth, and his experience of playing rugby since the age of four, which provided him with “great team building skills and leadership skills”.

Matt Western, the MP for Warwick and Leamington, said: “If [Reform] can barely appoint a leader or cabinet, I highly doubt they can run a council or address the problems that Warwickshire desperately needs sorting. Residents are being disrespected and disregarded. Running a council isn’t a game and must be treated with the seriousness residents deserve.”

He also criticised the appointment of Finch, suggesting that while he supports politically-engaged young people, the 18-year-old has “no experience of local government” and “running a council with a £500 million budget is not the place to learn on the job”.

Rachel Taylor, Labour MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, and Warwickshire Liberal Democrat Group leader, Jerry Roodhouse, shared similar concerns. They both raised urgent issues with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) provision and highway maintenance.

The leadership change is another unwelcome development for a party seeking to establish credibility at a local and national level

Green councillor Mark Stevens told The Boar that Howard’s “even shorter tenure than Liz Truss” had left the council reeling from “unpredictability, inexperience, and chaos”.

He added: “We need stability in these volatile times. Reform are letting the people of Warwickshire down badly. Fingers crossed for some hope to return at the next leadership vote.”

In response to the backlash, Finch stressed that Reform retained a mandate and he rejected accusations of inexperience, saying: “Don’t judge me on my age, judge me on what I do. At the moment, my track record is pretty good.

“As party chairman, I got 13 out of 13 candidates elected. All of the things we needed to do to prepare for the elections, they speak volumes, and I hope people can see past my age and the achievements that will be coming very soon on the council and my future work.”

Reform UK Warwickshire said that the party was “getting on with the job”, making headway on their Pothole Renewal Plan and apprenticeship programme, and improving SEND support.

The leadership change is another unwelcome development for a party seeking to establish credibility at a local and national level, with one Warwickshire Reform councillor previously having to sit as an Independent instead due to a “mistake” around his eligibility.

Warwickshire County Council and George Finch have been approached for comment.