The deputy leader of Warwickshire County Council insists Reform UK councillors will stand by under-fire leader George Finch despite admitting that he "says some things he shouldn't say".

Cllr George Finch faces a vote of no confidence on Tuesday, a motion brought by Green Party councillors fed up of "repeated attacks on staff, partner institutions and use of his role for constant, cheap and nasty political point scoring".

Some of the examples given include Cllr Finch making public comments about placing "boots on necks" of council staff to push through political will, posting defamatory images and words about opposition councillors on social media and his comments on a live criminal case during a national press conference that risked contempt of court.

But while understudy and portfolio holder for finance and property Cllr Stephen Shaw acknowledged he does not always agree with his leader's comments, he feels they do not meet the threshold to oust Cllr Finch from office.

"Some things we agree on, other things we don't, but at the end of the day you don't always agree with everyone," said Cllr Shaw.

"We voted for George as our leader and fully support him. Yes, he says things that can be questionable but he also says some very good things.

"He has a lot of support from our group and a lot of support around the county. We are all working on our portfolios in the cabinet and while this motion is against George, it is not only about him, we all stick together as a team.

"We have worked really hard on getting the council plan together, the officers are really excited by it.

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"He says some great things, he says some things he shouldn't say, but that's politics. I don't think it is worth a vote of no confidence. 

"I think the Greens have got a bit excited. It has been said in the past, we have to toughen up. People can't keep putting in complaints all the time, we are here to do a job for the people of Warwickshire."

Put to him that the comments on the criminal case, which Warwickshire County Council instigated an external investigation to handle complaints over, were entirely separate to political jousting, Cllr Shaw said: "George has his opinions and we can't stop him from speaking, that is what free speech is all about."

Cllr Shaw said it had yet to be decided whether there will be a party whip – formal instruction – to back Cllr Finch but he believes that "all Reform councillors will support George", also anticipating backing from Reform-supporting independents Cllr Luke Shingler and Cllr Ed Harris.

That would give Cllr Finch 21 of the 29 votes he needs to guarantee safety, although absences or abstentions – councillors opting against voting – could bring down the number of votes required.

The vote will be decided by a simple majority of all those who are present and choose to vote.

Cllr Shaw also confirmed Reform UK plan to discuss what would happen if Cllr Finch loses. He didn't rule in or out the prospect of standing for leader himself but stressed: "That would be up to us to discuss as a group if it came to it.

"The focus is on supporting George, we haven't got the stage of discussing that."

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He concluded with a call to park the party politics.

"I don't want to jab at other parties, people need to start settling down now," he said.

"The budget has been passed and that works with the council plan. We have to deliver on both, the residents come first and not councillors. 

"Residents will be appalled looking at this. They just want us to get on with the job and make Warwickshire better, not to have infighting about party politics."