Rachel has accused Reform UK in Warwickshire of launching a “desperate” crusade against LGBT+ people after new figures revealed that zero complaints have been made about books being inappropriate for children in the county’s libraries.
In June, the 19-year-old Reform UK Warwickshire council leader, George Finch, announced a review of Pride displays and LGBT+ books in local libraries. He claimed, without evidence, that such displays promoted “contested gender ideology” and posed a “safeguarding risk” to children.
The move followed similar attempts by Reform UK councils across the country to defund Pride marches, ban Pride flags from flying at county halls, and censor LGBT+ books in public libraries.
However, Rachel has published figures disclosed by Warwickshire County Council which showed that zero complaints had been made about books inappropriate for children in Warwickshire libraries since at least March 2024.
In total, the figures released under Freedom of Information rules show that over more than two years just one person has complained about a Pride Display in a Warwickshire library. The complaint was not upheld.
Rachel said the figures undermine claims that there is widespread parental concern about Pride displays in public libraries. She accused Reform UK of importing toxic US culture war politics to Warwickshire in an attempt to stir up division.
Rachel said:
“Council Leader George Finch appears determined to tell Warwickshire’s parents what their kids can and can’t read. But the figures I’ve obtained show that not one person has complained to Warwickshire County Council about Pride flags and books about same-sex relationships in our libraries being inappropriate for children.
“This desperate attempt to manufacture outrage is almost laughable, but Reform UK’s attacks on LGBT+ people are no laughing matter. Whether it’s Nigel Farage saying he doesn’t support same-sex marriage or Cllr Finch trying to ban LGBT+ books from display in our libraries, Reform have shown they are completely out of touch with modern Britain.
“Council Leader Finch needs to stop stirring up division and focus on delivering services for our communities in Warwickshire.”
In June, Cllr Finch appeared on BBC Coventry and Warwickshire to speak about the review he had announced, but struggled to explain how a display of books and Pride flags posed a threat to children.
Rachel said Reform UK’s attempt to censor library books about LGBT+ issues had echoes of the 1980s era ‘Section 28’ law that sought to promote the idea that only heterosexual relationships were legitimate.
In light of the lack of evidence of any parents being concerned about the library displays, she called on Cllr Finch to drop his review and focus on improving the delivery of council services.
Cllr Finch has a long history of attempts to suppress LGBT+ visibility, but with limited success. His attempts to prevent Warwickshire County Council from flying a Pride flag were thwarted after he survived a no confidence vote by appointing a Conservative Chair to the council, who promptly allowed a Pride flag to be raised over County Hall again.
Reform UK has repeatedly been accused of harbouring a homophobic agenda. In 2025, Nigel Farage stated that he did not support same-sex marriage, saying “I didn’t support it. I thought it was wrong to introduce it to the public without even putting it in a manifesto. I was very surprised that David Cameron did that.”