Council leader cleared over Pride flag row

7 hours ago

Andy MitchellLocal Democracy Reporter

News image — George Finch and Monica Fogarty were involved in a fallout over flying a Progress Pride Flag in Warwick

Warwickshire County Council George Finch and Monica Fogarty sitting at a table during a meeting. Finch has short brown hair and is wearing a suit. He has his left hand on the table and is looking to his right while smiling. Fogarty is wearing a silver necklace and a yellow and black top. She is tilting her head to the right while looking towards Finch. — George Finch and Monica Fogarty were involved in a fallout over flying a Progress Pride Flag in Warwick

A council leader has been cleared of a conduct breach following a complaint made by the authority's chief executive in a dispute sparked by a row over flags.

George Finch, leader of Reform UK-controlled Warwickshire County Council, had been accused of failing to adequately engage with Monica Fogarty, ahead of the hearing on Monday.

It came after Finch emailed Fogarty in June 2025 asking her to remove the Progress Pride Flag outside Shire Hall, Warwick - a request she refused.

Fogarty criticised Finch for the way he engaged with her after the refusal but said he had a right to make the decision, and was backed by the sub-committee that presided over the case.

The row led Fogarty to receive criticism nationally, including from Reform UK's Zia Yusuf and Nigel Farage, with the latter saying it was "time she looked for a new job".

An independent investigation by solicitor Claire Ward later claimed Finch had breached the council's conduct by failing to "value colleagues and staff and engage with them in an appropriate manner".

During the hearing, Ward said there was not a problem with the initial email itself but with the level of engagement that followed, adding there was "no communication with what would happen".

Fogarty was questioned by the sub-committee over whether Finch had the right to make the decision around removing the Progress Pride Flag and to engage with her via email.

She described Finch's language as "authoritarian" and directive with no opportunity for her to offer professional advice ahead of such decisions.

Three flags are fluttering in the wind outside a council building. They are an armed forces union flag, an England flag and a Progress Pride Flag. They are all flying from white poles. — The decision over flying the Progress Pride Flag, pictured on the right outside the Shire Hall in Warwick, was at the centre of the row

The council leader defended his right to make the decision, claiming the authority did not have a policy on flags at the time.

He said he could not "fathom" how an email request could not be considered a proper form of communication.

"As we all understand, this is a member-led organisation and, as acting leader, it was my right to ask those questions," he explained.

Finch said media coverage was "irrelevant" and explained his use of email was to create a "paper trail".

The sub-committee, made up of councillors John Waine (Reform), Yousef Dahmash (Conservative) and Richard Dickson (Liberal Democrat) decided there had been no breach, in a two-to-one vote.

Dahmash, chairman, said the reasons would be given in the decision notice, which would be published "as soon as possible".

Both Fogarty and Finch declined when asked if they wanted to comment further.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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