The councillor in charge of adult social care and health in Warwickshire stands accused of language that "demeans your position" having referenced Urdu in a council debate. 

It follows Cllr Anne-Marie Sonko, who sits on the nine-strong cabinet of Reform UK councillors that runs Warwickshire County Council's major service areas, taking aim at political rivals on Tuesday. 

During the debate of the Green Party's motion to remove leader Cllr George Finch from power, Cllr Sonko said: "I'm not sure what to make of this movement, there are hardly any words on it but I suppose I am just grateful that you put it in English and not Urdu."

The comment instigated a mix of laughter, applause and groans from a busy and divided chamber and public gallery at Shire Hall and was later echoed by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage MP on social media, his official accounts on Facebook and X posting: "Councillor George Finch wins his vote of no confidence in Warwickshire. It was a surprise to see the defeated Green Party motion wasn't written in Urdu."

Reform UK and Labour figures criticised the Greens producing campaign material in Urdu for the Gorton & Denton parliamentary by-election, a ballot that Green candidate Hannah Spencer won, but Cllr Sonko was challenged on her language by the red corner of Shire Hall. 

Leader of Warwickshire's Labour group Cllr Sarah Feeney said: "People in Reform have talked about gutter politics, mudslinging, then they have turned around and denigrated colleagues in this chamber.

"They have called people deluded, they have said they are hate-filled, they have implied that people on this side are spiteful, that they are nasty.

"One councillor in this chamber said she was grateful that it was in English, not in Urdu."

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Cllr Sonko nodded in response. Cllr Feeney continued: "I would suggest you restrain your comments on this kind of thing, councillor. Quite frankly, it belittles you and demeans your position. 

"This is exactly what people are talking about. We want a respected council, we don't want to go to where people were a few years ago in Nuneaton and Bedworth where there was disruption and shouting. We don't want allegations and accusations made, constantly on a daily basis, about behaviours."

During her speech, an agitated Cllr Sonko had also taken aim at Councillor Sam Jones (Warwick North), who currently sits as an independent having been suspended by the Green Party.

She said that during his time with "the nice party, the tree-hugging party", many of Cllr Jones's TikTok reels had been "aimed at Reform UK… like we were living rent free in your head".

Cllr Nicki Scott sought to intervene but her claim that it was a specific attack on an individual was rejected by chair Cllr Dale Keeling.

"No it's not," insisted Cllr Sonko.

"What I am trying to get to the point of is that you (say) there is no hatred but there clearly is. I actually sought help for this and I wasn't helped by your leader then.

"I never had a bad text message or a post on my social media in my life – I am a middle-aged woman, look at me – but since I joined Reform UK, the vitriol is incessant.

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"Please do not say this is not political. You don't like Reform, get over it."

Cllr Jones later said Reform UK should expect scrutiny having taken power.

"I have been on social media, I have been trying to scrutinise this administration and I believe I have been doing the right thing by the people of Warwickshire in doing so," he said.