UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Reform UK councillors face backlash for approving £150k spend on political advisers despite pledging to cut waste, sparking protests and climate vote defeat.
As reported by The Guardian, critics accused Reform UK of breaking spending promises after councillors voted to allocate £150,000 for political advisers.
Who proposed the £150k adviser plan that sparked protests in Warwickshire?
The adviser plan was initiated by George Finch, 19, a newly elected Reform councillor who became Warwickshire council leader during a protest-hit session.
He said,
“For years, the council administration has relied on the corporate policy team to come up with the innovative ideas required to shepherd Warwickshire through the crises we face. We’ve found this team to be unable to bring about the change we were elected for.”
A protest followed George Finch’s attempt, as interim leader, to have the Pride flag removed before the end of Pride Month. The council’s chief executive denied the request, saying it was her decision to make.
During the latest council meeting, Reform UK used its new majority to pass a political adviser plan. However, it was defeated on a separate motion addressing the climate crisis.
What did George Cowcher say about Reform UK’s adviser plan?
Opposition figures say Reform UK has gone back on its word by supporting taxpayer-funded advisers for their own party, the Tories, and the Lib Dems. They argue the move contradicts promises to cut council waste.
George Cowcher, councillor and deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said,
“These proposals are all about spending some money so they can have a chum in their group and I think that is not particularly helpful given the financial state of this council.”
He pointed out that a significant portion of the financial year had already passed, yet Reform UK had failed to present any budget management plan.
What did Green party councillors say about Reform UK’s spending U-turn?
Sam Jones, a Green party councillor, stated,
“Reform have had a sniff of power, they’re making it so clear that they never cared a jot for the will of their supporters. No to overpaid, unelected bureaucrats before the election, but yes to up to £150,000 of unfunded spending on political assistants now the campaigning is over.”
Tracey Drew said,
“The least well off in our county are going to be the first and the most to be impacted by the effects of climate change.”
What did Reform Councillors say about adviser spending and climate action?
Defending the plan, Finch argued that appointing political assistants for all major parties was legally permitted and followed standard council practice.
He urged opposition parties to reject the plan outright and avoid appointing political assistants if they genuinely opposed it.
Michael Bannister, a fellow Reform councillor, described the proposal as “value for money” and said funding would be redirected from other areas.
Luke Cooper, another Refrom councillor said,
“We are here as local people sorting out local problems. It is ridiculous to be asking for anything else.”
He cited his experience installing solar panels and argued that such solutions remain unaffordable for the average person.
Reform faced a defeat as opposition councillors backed a Green-led motion acknowledging climate change and reaffirming the council’s 2019 climate emergency declaration.
Sarah Feeney’s views on the climate crisis
Sarah Feeney, leader of the Labour group, said climate change is not a distant threat.
She pointed to flooding that has forced elderly residents to barricade themselves inside their homes.
What are protesters saying about Reform’s stance on pride and climate?
Becky Davidson, a local councillor, stood with demonstrators backing the LGBT community. She accused Finch of turning them into a political tool.
Among the crowd, Stratford-upon-Avon resident Carolyn held a protest sign warning,
“Donald Trump inspires Farage to import to the UK DEI: Division, Exclusion, Inequality.”
She voiced fears that the Reform Party could reverse policies acknowledging the climate crisis, calling Finch’s stance on the Pride flag “petty.”