The leader of Warwickshire County Council has been urged to reconsider the "suitability" of under-fire children's chief Wayne Briggs following derogatory comments about members of the Pride movement.

Cllr Sarah Feeney, leader of the Warwickshire County Council's Labour group, has written to Cllr George Finch to argue that the views put across by portfolio holder for children, families, education and SEND Cllr Briggs are "not compatible with having oversight of education and social care for young people".

Reform UK-affiliated council staff issued a statement from Cllr Briggs in which he refused to either apologise for the views he expressed in a "private" email or step back from the cabinet, despite acknowledging that he would have used "different language" had he been making a public statement.

A statement from Cllr Finch was released at the same time, backing Cllr Briggs over what he regards as "a personal view in private correspondence", adding his cabinet member has "my confidence to continue in his role".

That prompted Cllr Feeney to fire practical questions Cllr Finch's way.

"Councillor Briggs clearly has deeply-felt views about gender and sexuality that we believe are not compatible with having oversight of education and social care for young people," she wrote.

"We must question how he would deal with a child in crisis over their gender identity, how he would direct staff in his departments to ensure appropriate support is given to these children whilst holding views that they must have been groomed.

"This also raises very significant and serious questions about how he will direct staff to interact with parents who are LGBTQ+. Will there be direction to treat those parents with the same respect as heterosexual parents or to view them as worrying influences on their own children?

advertisement

"Whilst we have seen your comments in Nub News backing Councillor Briggs, saying he has a right to free speech and personal views, we question (how) you have determined that his views will not impact services to young people in this authority?

"We urge you to consider again the suitability of Cllr Briggs for his cabinet portfolio."

Cllr Feeney told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she had written to Cllr Finch because she believed Cllr Briggs should be sacked rather than resign.

Asked whether anything could change her stance, she replied: "We would have to hear very clearly and strongly from the LGBTQ+ community that they believed that would be right.

"They will be deeply hurt and upset and my impression is that they wish to see him go. Give his deeply-held views it would take an extraordinary conversion from his current position."