I dont care about my age 19 year-old Reform council leader tells BBC

George Finch had planned to be at university studying to become a history teacher.

Instead, at the age of 19, he has become the youngest council leader in the UK, running Warwickshire County Council with a budget of £2bn.

The Reform UK councillor still lives at his family home and cannot yet drive. Facts which have led to jibes in public and private from some opposition councillors.

Reform became the largest party on the previously Conservative-led authority with 23 seats in Mays local elections.

Finch became interim leader when his predecessor Rob Howard quit with "much regret", citing health reasons.

Speaking exclusively to the BBC, the teenager hit back at criticism about his lack of life and professional experience – labelling those turning their noses up at his appointment as "ageist" and "not relevant".

Sitting down in the leaders office, shortly after scraping through a leadership vote at the councils Shire Hall headquarters, Finch called out his critics.

He said: "All I see is age… I dont care about my age. Would people be questioning if there was a 70-year-old at the helm? Probably not.

"Joe Biden, Donald Trump, presidents that are older – no-one questions it. But theyre questioning someone who is 19."

But leading a £2bn organisation is not a typical job for a 19-year-old, and Finch admitted he had had other plans.

"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 he had been inspired by Reform and former Conservative MP Lee Anderson, who has previously criticised educational establishments for what he perceives as teachers pushing "dog whistle divisive politics" on pupils.

In April, National Education Union members called for funds to be used to help campaign against Reform UK candidates.

The organisation, Britains biggest teaching union, branded Reform UK "a racist and far right" party.

In his time as interim leader, Finch said he had used his new "influence" over education by calling Anjit Samra, CEO of Stowe Valley Multi-Academy Trust, to his office after a row over a union jack dress at Bilton School, in Rugby.

"I dont have the power to tell him what to do as hes an academy, but I do have that influence.

"I asked him simple, I said I would like to see, and I think its in your best interests, if you have a school assembly on the importance of British culture."

Reform has pledged to cut wasteful spending and improve the efficiency of the councils it runs. But some of its spending decisions have faced criticism, while opponents say there has been little concrete action to reduce costs.

In Warwickshire, opposition parties have criticised Finch and his party for planning to hire political assistants at a cost of up to £190,000 a year, saying the money should be spent on front-line services instead.

Asked what his friends made of his new job, the 19-year-old said: "They love it, when I have to go to the pub I dont have to buy a pint."

But why did Reform appeal to him and why is it gaining momentum with some young people?

"People cant afford homes, they cant have a car, postgraduate jobs are decreasing. Its getting harder for us to see a good future, a better future. And with Reform UK, thats what gives people that hope."

He said he thought his appointment would probably help attract people to the party.

"It shows that anyone can do anything in this party, if youre up to the task. If youve got that merit-based system - and thats where weve gone wrong for far too long in the private and public sector."

He added: "Its oh, heres a job because of your skin colour or your creed or your religion. No, you get the job because youre good at it."

A keen rugby player, Finch is used to battling on the pitch. But it was in the corridors of power where he faced his first public fight, in a row with the councils chief executive Monica Fogarty after he asked for a Progress Pride Flag to be removed from outside the authoritys Warwick HQ.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage waded into the row calling out what he perceived as "obstructionism" by council officials saying "Warwickshire is a very, very good example".

Asked if he could work with the council chief executive and other officers, Finch said: "We have done. We have to have that professional working relationship."

Pushed on whether it was professional to publicly call out the councils chief executive, he said: "Were working together, the council is running. I think youre looking too deep into this."

Talking about his priorities for Warwickshire over the coming months and years, Finch said having a sister with special educational needs and disabilities meant he had a keen interest in the area which has been labelled a financial threat to the future of the council.

Another contentious area is the potential scrapping of lower-level authorities as part of the Labour governments devolution plans.

Finch said he wanted to look at these ideas in his county and he would like to see areas such as Nuneaton and Bedworth given their own town councils.

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