Code of conduct complaint for council leader over libraries plan

Reform UK's Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch is to face another code of conduct complaint, this time from Warwickshire Pride, after he said books containing "contested gender ideology" should be removed from libraries in the county.

Later referencing books featuring transgender issues, he said libraries should "not seek to embolden political ideologies", which he said were "highly charged and polarising", saying they should not be "taught to children as pure fact".

Finch said a new policy would be developed after receiving "a number" of complaints from residents regarding some children's books.

Following his statement on Monday, Warwickshire Pride said it had submitted a formal code of conduct complaint against Finch.

The BBC has contacted Finch to ask which titles of books he was referring to.

Warwickshire Pride said his comments "further marginalised" members of the LGBT+ community.

"The suggestion that books or resources acknowledging LGBTQ+ people somehow undermine neutrality is both misleading and dangerous," it added.

Reform councillor Mike Bannister confirmed there was "no indication whatsoever" that staff had promoted specific literature and promised that the new policy would be "fully discussed" with the libraries team.