A Warwickshire councillor who quit Reform UK revealed how George Finch's "synthetic" selection as leader seemed to be "more down to who had time to do the job than ability".

Cllr Luke Cooper was elected as a Reform candidate in May 2025 but last week joined MP Rupert Lowe's new political movement Restore Britain alongside county colleague Cllr Scott Cameron.

It ripped the lid off an explosive civil war that dates back to Reform's sudden sweep to power in last year's local elections with Cllr Cameron claiming he had been ostracised because he stood to be leader and raised standards issues behind the scenes.

Cllr Finch and his deputy Cllr Stephen Shaw hit back with allegations that Cllr Cameron had been motivated by a wish to have the top job.

Despite quitting Reform over its shift on national issues, Cllr Cooper was nowhere near as scathing, indicating that both sides had been "at cross purposes" while backing the view that Cllr Cameron had been unfairly treated. 

He insisted he had not experienced national Reform figures meddling in day-to-day decisions affecting Warwickshire but expressed concern that when predecessor Cllr Rob Howard stood down after just 41 days as leader citing health problems, Cllr Finch's selection happened "a bit too cleanly" and felt "very strange".

Asked about Cllr Cameron's claims there was a 'clique' within Reform, Cllr Cooper said: "Some people are closer than others. You could describe it as a clique but for me that infers something stronger than it is.

"Of course they are going to reward loyalty at the start but George getting in felt synthetic. It felt like there had to be better options than putting in a 19-year-old.

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"There were a lot of rumours about things getting pushed through for George, it was very strange."

He stopped short of alleging that Cllr Finch's selection had been teed up by Reform's hierarchy but said that when the wisdom of decision was questioned, the response from fellow Warwickshire councillors was limited to Finch having "decency".

"He talks a good game, he comes across well but I never felt he was right for leader," added Cllr Cooper.

"I always felt he should be in a high position but putting him in as leader felt strange from the offset, to a lot of us.

"I am not saying he has done a terrible job. There was enough there for me to get along with in the meantime – better might come along but it wasn't like I was going to pressure someone (to be replaced).

"He was able to be held to account enough, we were able to talk, but the animosity between them (Finch and Shaw) and Scott made their relationship very pressured.

"They were passable leaders, just not who I would have gone for."

He did suggest, however, that the top two should have done more to manage problems before they snowballed, stating a belief that Cllr Cameron had been "used as a scapegoat to deflect" questions about the leader.

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"They seem to think Scott is lying, maliciously putting in complaints for no reason," said Cllr Cooper.

"They assume he is in it for power but he has proven to me multiple times that he is not – they just cannot believe it. Every time I speak to Scott it is never about that, it is about moral choices.

"Scott has made some valid complaints but they won't hear it and assume the worst. They are believing someone else over Scott, I don't know who.

"No one has gone to Scott in what seems a genuine way, everything seems to be slightly backhanded.

"I wouldn't place any blame on Scott for how he views it. I would put it down to the other guys, at least that inability to manage the situation. That's their job, they are the leadership.

"That was what George's leadership was sold on. When it was mentioned that he was 19 people said they would be able to guide him. I thought we shouldn't have to, I was unhappy with that situation and they seem to be standing by everything that falls out of his mouth.

"I think it may be people who are not used to politics. Maybe they have made friendships and defend George rather than seeing past that and finding the principles behind the issue."

Cllr Cooper insisted there was no pleasure to be taken from how the situation has unfolded but argued that "people deserve to know what is happening behind closed doors" before concluding with a conciliatory message. 

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"I still have respect for a lot of them in Reform," he said.

"I hope people can see past the differences and that the attacks that are happening now (on national policies) are the same ones that went Reform's way a year ago, just from the other side."

Cllr Finch has been approached for comment.