The deputy leader of Warwickshire County Council's Conservative group has stepped down over "the way some matters were being handled".

Cllr Jan Matecki relinquished the role on Friday but will remain a councillor and a "fully committed" member of the Conservative group. 

He told colleagues directly after a meeting in which it was decided that the Tories would not back a Green Party-led challenge to oust council leader Cllr George Finchin a vote of no confidence tomorrow (Tuesday, March 17). 

Cllr Matecki confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he had made the decision before attending that meeting and that it was not related to the Conservative stance on Cllr Finch. 

His reasons did, however, indicate all is not well within the group of nine Tory members at Shire Hall.

"To perform my role properly, I need full confidence in the processes and structures in which the leadership operates," he said. 

"Over time, that confidence has been harder to maintain. It became clear that the way some matters were being handled no longer aligned with the leadership framework that we had agreed collectively.

"When that happens, the responsible thing to do is to step back."

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Asked whether his comments related to group leader Cllr Adrian Warwick, who has been in post since previous council leader Izzi Seccombe lost her Stour & the Vale seat in the May 2025 elections, Cllr Matecki replied: "This isn't about individuals, it is about approach. 

"Sometimes different leadership styles stop aligning. That's all."

He did not wish to elaborate further and politely declined to comment on how he would vote on the leadership challenge or whether the Tories would be subject to a party whip – formal instruction – in that ballot.

Their position will be pivotal with a full house expected and the nine votes available set to tip the balance on Cllr Finch's future.

Cllr Adrian Warwick, leader of Warwickshire County Council's Conservative group, was unavailable for comment. 

He was first contacted in relation to his party's stance on the no-confidence vote on Tuesday, March 10. Its position was publicised via a press release on Friday afternoon (March 13).