The Conservative who voted to remove Reform UK's George Finch as leader of Warwickshire County Council has been kicked out of his group for three months.

Cllr Jan Matecki was handed an interim 21-day suspension on the spot, one that saw him move from the Tory benches to sit with independent councillors after Cllr Finch survived a vote of no confidence by just one vote – 27-26.

The six other Conservative councillors present – Cllr Chris Mills and Cllr Dean Richards did not turn up – all backed Cllr Finch to stay in the top job despite a Green-led call for change.

Their reasons included Cllr Finch's "attacks on officers" and partner organisations including Warwickshire Police and "breaches of confidentiality", including one that saw an independent investigator tell the county council that its leader had breached its code of conduct.

During the debate, Cllr Matecki said Cllr Finch's leadership had too often been mired in "controversy and distraction", putting the council in the spotlight "for all the wrong reasons" and vowed to act on the concerns expressed by the residents of his patch. 

Having been hit with the initial ban, Cllr Matecki told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he had not been given a reason and that he could "only presume it was because I voted for the motion of no confidence", finding it "absolutely extraordinary" that such action was taken in relation to an opposition leader.

He had been the deputy leader of his county group until days before and served as a cabinet member prior to the Tories losing power to Reform in May 2025.

Cllr Matecki has now confirmed that "the group has decided to extend my suspension until June 17". 

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When asked what reason he had been given he said he did not wish to discuss "internal group matters in public", adding: "I have exercised my right of appeal and it would be inappropriate to comment while that process is ongoing."

He has yet to be informed when the appeal will be heard and declined to say who will hear it, describing that as "an internal matter". 

"I just want to let due process run its course now," he added.

Cllr Adrian Warwick, leader of Warwickshire County Council's Conservative group, confirmed at the time of the initial suspension that his members had been whipped – formally instructed – to back Cllr Finch but that it was a "group decision", not his alone.

He stated his belief in due process and vowed to "use it fairly, and Jan will have his say".

When approached on the three-month ban, Cllr Warwick said it would be inappropriate to comment while the appeal process was ongoing. 

Cllr Matecki remains a county councillor, a member of the Conservative party and a member of Warwick District Council's Conservative group, an authority he is also elected to, although he understands that his district group will be meeting to discuss the situation imminently.