Reform UK Warwickshire county councillors have elected Rob Howard, councillor for Attleborough, as group leader.

He will be joined by George Finch, councillor for Bedworth Central, as deputy leader, following the meeting of councillors.

Cllr Howard's background is in sales and marketing, with his career seeing him rising from representative to managing director.

He ran his own consultancy business from 2004 to 2022 and lives with his partner of 20 years.

Cllr Howard said: "It's an honour and a privilege to have been elected leader of the Reform UK group on Warwickshire County Council.

"What we have achieved here is incredible.

"From a standing start we are now the largest party on the council.

"The people of Warwickshire have given this council a mandate for serious change, and we look forward to delivering for them."

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Reform UK won 23 out of 57 seats on Warwickshire County Council in the recent local election, making it the largest party on the authority, but short of a majority.

This has dropped by one with Cllr Luke Shingler temporarily standing as an independent due to the nature of his work.

Nationally, the party secured 677 seats in this month's local elections with 31 per cent of the vote share - the first time a party other than the Conservatives or Labour have topped the list.

The news of Cllr Howard's appointment comes while a decision on who is set to run Warwickshire County Council is made.

The other parties have challenged Reform to set out their intentions with the formation of a new council due this week.