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| Warwickshire Reform County Council leader resigns, leaving 18-year-old in charge | Warwickshire Reform County Council leader resigns, leaving 18-year-old in charge |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| George Finch, 18, will lead Warwickshire County Council | George Finch, 18, will lead Warwickshire County Council |
| The recently elected leader of Warwickshire County Council has resigned, leaving his 18-year-old deputy in charge. | The recently elected leader of Warwickshire County Council has resigned, leaving his 18-year-old deputy in charge. |
| Reform UK councillor Rob Howard released a short statement in which he said he had made the decision with "much regret". | Reform UK councillor Rob Howard released a short statement in which he said he had made the decision with "much regret". |
| Howard was elected in May, when Reform made unprecedented gains in the local elections, becoming the largest party in Warwickshire and forming a minority administration. | Howard was elected in May, when Reform made unprecedented gains in the local elections, becoming the largest party in Warwickshire and forming a minority administration. |
| The outgoing leader cited his health as the reason for his decision, adding: "The role of leader is an extremely demanding role and regretfully my health challenges now prevent me from carrying out the role to the level and standard that I would wish." | The outgoing leader cited his health as the reason for his decision, adding: "The role of leader is an extremely demanding role and regretfully my health challenges now prevent me from carrying out the role to the level and standard that I would wish." |
| He also confirmed that his current deputy, George Finch, would serve as interim leader until the council confirmed a new leader in due course. | He also confirmed that his current deputy, George Finch, would serve as interim leader until the council confirmed a new leader in due course. |
| Mr Finch declined to speak to the BBC about the changes but on Thursday issued a statement in which he said there would be a leadership election in the next week. | Mr Finch declined to speak to the BBC about the changes but on Thursday issued a statement in which he said there would be a leadership election in the next week. |
| "We want to make sure the election process is fair and candidates are competing on a level playing field. Let's see where we are in a week's time," he added. | "We want to make sure the election process is fair and candidates are competing on a level playing field. Let's see where we are in a week's time," he added. |
| Rob Howard said health issues were the reason for his resignation | Rob Howard said health issues were the reason for his resignation |
| Rachel Taylor, Labour MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, said Howard's resignation would be a "real concern" for her constituents. | |
| "We desperately need a functioning council to fill in potholes, deliver our care services and end the crisis in SEND education." | |
| Taylor added there had been questions about how well the Reform administration had been functioning since the local election. | |
| "[The questions are] not helped by the council leader missing the first meeting to take a holiday to the Dominican Republic or telling the local paper his council didn't have any specific policies," the MP said. | |
| She wished Howard well and urged Reform councillors to elect a new leader "as quickly as possible" so the authority could "start governing effectively in the interest of Warwickshire residents". | |
| Speaking to the BBC earlier this month, Howard said he was "not intimidated" by the challenge of running a local authority with £1.5bn of assets and a revenue budget of about £500m. | Speaking to the BBC earlier this month, Howard said he was "not intimidated" by the challenge of running a local authority with £1.5bn of assets and a revenue budget of about £500m. |
| Despite resigning the top job with immediate effect, Howard confirmed he would be staying on as a county councillor. | Despite resigning the top job with immediate effect, Howard confirmed he would be staying on as a county councillor. |
| "I am honoured and privileged to have held the role, even if only for a short time. I remain committed to my continued role working as a county councillor for the benefit of Warwickshire residents," he said. | "I am honoured and privileged to have held the role, even if only for a short time. I remain committed to my continued role working as a county councillor for the benefit of Warwickshire residents," he said. |
| Mr Finch, councillor for Bedworth Central, was a member of the Conservative Party for three months before switching to Reform on the grounds that it would better tackle illegal immigration. | Mr Finch, councillor for Bedworth Central, was a member of the Conservative Party for three months before switching to Reform on the grounds that it would better tackle illegal immigration. |
| On the New Reformer website, he said his politics could be summed up as "Brexit, sovereignty and a strong and united family unit". | On the New Reformer website, he said his politics could be summed up as "Brexit, sovereignty and a strong and united family unit". |
| Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |
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