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Reform's Pride Flag removal vetoed by council boss

Simon Gilbert
BBC Political Reporter, Coventry and Warwickshire•@TheSimonGilbert
Warwickshire County Council Monica Fogarty faces the camera. She wears pink lipstick and has a blonde bob haircut.Warwickshire County Council
Monica Fogarty, chief executive of Warwickshire County Council, said decisions over which flags were flown were up to her

Reform UK has accused Warwickshire County Council's chief executive of a "coup d'etat" in a row over removing a Progress Pride flag.

Zia Yusuf, head of Reform's department of government efficiency, made the claim after Monica Fogarty refused to remove the flag before the end of Pride month from outside the council's Shire Hall headquarters in Warwick.

Acting Reform Warwickshire leader George Finch wrote to the council's chief executive asking for the flag, which includes the colours of the trans rights movement and traditional rainbow colours, to be removed.

But the chief executive refused the request, stating in an email response to Finch that she was responsible for such decisions.

Three flags on white poles outside a building. One is a British Armed Forces Union Jack flag, one is the St George's flag and one is the Progress Pride Flag.
Ms Fogarty said she "saw no reason" to diverge from the council's policy of flying the flag annually during Pride Month

Finch made the request after the 18-year-old replaced Rob Howard who stepped down after just over five weeks in the role.

Ms Fogarty said: "I am afraid I will not be taking the action that you are requesting" adding that she "saw no reason" to diverge from the council's policy of flying the flag annually during Pride Month.

She added: "This council does not have a formal policy around decision-making on the flying of flags" and suggested the leader should look for the council to vote on one should he wish to introduce one.

Facebook George Finch looks at the camera. He has floppy short brown hair with a centre parting, and wears a suit with a red tie.Facebook
18-year-old George Finch is the interim leader of Warwickshire County Council after Rob Howard stepped down just a few weeks into the role

Her view has been backed by the leader of the Green Party in Warwickshire.

Group leader Jonathan Chilvers said: "Leaders, let alone interim leaders, can't make a decision on a whim based on what they ate for breakfast that morning - that's what dictatorships are made of."

Councillor Chilvers wears a Green Party rosette and a blue shirt. He has short blond hair and is smiling.
Jonathan Chilvers, the leader of the Green Party in Warwickshire, accused Finch of wanting to run the council like a dictatorship

Mr Yusuf accused Ms Fogarty of acting like the "monarch of Warwickshire" and "subversion of democracy".

He added his belief that "unelected bureaucrats" had "seized control of the country."

Following the local elections in May, Yusuf said: "Reform-controlled English councils will move at speed to resolve that the only flags permitted to be flown on or in its buildings will be the Union Jack and St George's flag."

NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Zia Yusuf, stands at a podium with Reform UK's logo on the front. He has short brown hair and is wearing a suit with a light blue tie.NEIL HALL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Zia Yusuf accused Warwickshire County Council's chief executive of "subverting democracy"

Reform does not have overall control of the council in Warwickshire, although it is the largest party.

The Progress Flag has since been removed from Shire Hall following the end of Pride Month.

Both Councillor Finch and Ms Fogarty have been approached by the BBC for comment.

A new Reform group leader is expected to be chosen by the party in the coming days, with the formal appointment as council leader due to take place at a meeting of the full council on July 22.

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