5 hours ago
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Simon GilbertPolitical Reporter, Coventry and Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Council
Councillor Luke Cooper (left) and Scott Cameron (right) have had the Reform whip removed by the leader of Warwickshire County Council George Finch
Two Reform councillors in Warwickshire have been removed from the party after accusations they were planning to defect.
Warwickshire County Council and Reform group leader George Finch confirmed the whip had been removed from Scott Cameron and Luke Cooper.
Both councillors have been approached for comment.
Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch accused the two councillors of indulging in stunts
Finch said: "In these circumstances, it is not appropriate for them to continue to represent Reform UK or sit within our group.
"Reform UK in Warwickshire is here to deliver for residents — not to indulge in stunts designed to create headlines at the expense of local colleagues. I will not allow the hard work of our councillors and volunteers to be undermined."
The move means that three Reform councillor have lost the whip in Warwickshire over the past three weeks.
Warwickshire County Council
Councillor Edward Harris was the Reform chairman of Warwickshire County Council but resigned the whip in January
But Reform now faces a greater challenge to push through decisions at an authority which has no one party in overall control.
Key calls such as the budget and selecting the council leader have been pushed through with the support of the nine serving Conservative councillors.
There are 57 members in total on the council. The next largest party is the Liberal Democrats with 14, the Greens have six and Labour has three.
