Reform UK'S hierarchy instructed its Warwickshire councillors to stand by George Finch as leader at all costs – even if it meant giving up power.

Details have emerged from a group meeting attended by Reform's head of local government and ex-Conservative MP Ben Bradley and serving MP Richard Tice in which representatives of the ruling party at Warwickshire County Council were told not to put forward an alternative if Cllr Finch lost last week's vote of no confidence.

The Green Party moved a motion to oust Cllr Finch citing "attacks on officers" and police, "breaches of confidentiality" and his defiance of the will of council after losing votes.

Reform holds power despite not holding a majority of seats, meaning they require either support or no dissent from political rivals to get decisions through.

Addressing his group ahead of the challenge to his position, Cllr Finch expressed confidence that he would have the numbers to get over the line thanks to support from Reform-supporting independent councillors and the Conservatives.

Mr Bradley stressed that it was vital for all 19 Reform members to turn out and to back Cllr Finch but then followed that with a strict plan in the event of defeat.

Reform councillors were told not to put up an alternative group or council leader, instead they were to pass the baton back to opponents to form their own minority administration. It was made clear that failure to comply would break party rules. 

That worst-case position split the Reform ranks but their will to follow the order was not tested as Cllr Finch survived as council leader by one vote – 27-26 – thanks to support from six out of seven Conservatives present, two Restore Britain councillors choosing not to vote either way and two Tories not turning up.

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Reform members were also issued with a briefing document which stated there was a three-line whip – the strongest voting instruction a political party can give to its members – to back Cllr Finch, something the leader told the Local Democracy Reporting Service had not been in place when interviewed after winning the vote of no confidence.

Asked whether his group had been whipped to back him, Cllr Finch said: "No, no they weren't."

Put to him there had been suggestions to the contrary and that Reform councillors had expressed concern, Cllr Finch said his members had "backed me immensely".

Later in that interview, he thanked everyone who had supported him and stated that "no one kicked up a fuss because they knew it was George or bust". 

Cllr Finch was unavailable for comment on this latest information. Reform UK's press office declined to comment.