Warwickshire council boss vetoed Reform’s Pride Flag removal request

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.

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.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, said on X: “This unelected bureaucrat thinks she knows better than the people.

“Perhaps Monica Fogarty should look for a new job.”

He said his party would “fight back and fight hard”.

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.”

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.”

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.