A 19-year-old Reform UK councillor has become the youngest council leader in the UK after a knife-edge vote at Warwickshire County Council, taking charge of a £2bn budget whilst still living at his parents’ home and unable to drive.
George Finch was formally elected as permanent leader on Tuesday following three rounds of voting, with Reform UK chairman Councillor Ed Harris casting the deciding vote to break a 23-all tie. The teenager, who represents Bedworth Central, had been serving as interim leader since June after his predecessor Rob Howard resigned citing health reasons just 41 days into the role.
The appointment has sparked fierce debate about experience and age in politics, with Finch hitting back at critics by labelling them “ageist” and drawing comparisons to older world leaders.
“All I see is age… I don’t care about my age. Would people be questioning if there was a 70-year-old at the helm? Probably not,” Finch told the BBC in an exclusive interview. Joe Biden, Donald Trump, presidents that are older – no-one questions it. But they’re questioning someone who is 19.”
Opposition councillors have raised concerns about the teenager’s lack of life and professional experience, with one woman reportedly shouting from the public gallery that it was a “sad day for Warwickshire” as he was announced leader.
The Conservative councillors abstained from voting in the final round, leaving the casting vote to Reform’s council chairman. Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Jerry Roodhouse, who lost to Finch in the final ballot, had warned that the council needed experienced leadership rather than “experimentation.
“This is not a moment for experimentation. It is one for experienced leadership,” said Conservative councillor Adrian Warwick during the debate, noting that Reform had “retired from the cricket match as soon as they were elected.
Finch’s rapid rise to power follows Reform UK’s breakthrough performance in May’s local elections, when the party won 23 of 57 seats on Warwickshire County Council, making it the largest party but without an overall majority. The party secured approximately 30.7% of the vote share, ahead of the Conservatives on 24.9%.
The teenager, who was studying to become a history teacher before entering politics, cited disillusionment with what he called “socialist wokeism” in universities as a factor in his political awakening. He said he was inspired by Reform UK and former Conservative MP Lee Anderson.
“I wanted to be a history teacher. I loved history and I loved teaching but the problem was the curriculum, especially history. Universities and colleges are a conveyor belt for socialist wokeism,” Finch said.
His brief tenure as interim leader has already courted controversy, particularly over a public row about a Pride flag flying outside the council’s Shire Hall headquarters. Finch instructed chief executive Monica Fogarty to remove the Progress Pride flag, citing Reform UK’s policy of only flying British flags on council property.
Fogarty refused the request, stating that decisions on flags were within her delegated authority and not the leader’s remit. The dispute escalated when Reform UK leader Nigel Farage intervened on social media, suggesting Fogarty “should look for a new job.
“The CEO of Warwickshire County Council is refusing to take down the trans flag. This unelected bureaucrat thinks she knows better than the people,” Farage posted on X.
Green Party councillor Jonathan Chilvers criticised Finch’s handling of the situation, saying: “It’s appalling that when he couldn’t get what he wanted he cried off to his national party to get them to launch a full bloodied party political assault on a civil servant.
Despite the controversies, Finch has outlined ambitious priorities for the council, including addressing special educational needs provision, which he said was personal to him as his sister has special educational needs and disabilities. He also wants to explore devolution options and the creation of town councils for areas like Nuneaton and Bedworth.
The council faces significant financial challenges, with a revenue budget of around £500 million and assets worth £1.5 billion. Recent reports show the authority was projecting a £47 million overspend for 2024-25, driven by rising costs in social care, SEND services and home-to-school transport.
Opposition parties have also criticised Reform’s plan to hire political assistants at a cost of up to £190,000 annually, arguing the money should be spent on frontline services instead.
Reform UK defended their young leader, with a party spokesperson stating: “Councillor Finch was not only democratically elected with over 60 per cent of the vote in his ward, but also by his fellow councillors today. He has proven his capability both in life and in politics.”
Asked about his friends’ reaction to his new position, Finch quipped: “They love it, when I have to go to the pub I don’t have to buy a pint.”
The appointment reflects a broader trend of young Reform UK councillors taking senior positions, including 19-year-old Charles Pugsley overseeing children and family services at Leicestershire County Council whilst still at university.
Rachel Taylor, Labour MP for North Warwickshire and Bedworth, expressed concern about the appointment, saying: “Yesterday’s resignation of the Reform leader of Warwickshire county council and his replacement with an 18-year-old will be of real concern to my constituents.
The British Association of Social Workers noted that such positions oversee hundreds of millions of pounds in spending and require experience in running complex departments.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
