The former deputy leader of Warwickshire County Council, Stephen Shaw, privately described taxpayer-funded political assistants as 'a waste of money' just months after his own party introduced the roles. Shaw, a Reform UK councillor for Polesworth, made the comments during budget discussions in February, away from the public eye but in the presence of elected officials and staff.
Budget Savings Proposal
Shaw, who was then responsible for budget setting and serving as deputy to leader George Finch, suggested that political assistants allocated to the three largest groups on the council—Reform, Liberal Democrats, and Conservatives—were an unnecessary expense. He argued that the money could be spent 'on much better things' to help balance the authority's finances.
Leadership Changes
In April, Shaw stepped down as deputy leader due to changed work commitments but retained the portfolio for finance and property. However, in a recent cabinet reshuffle, new deputy leader James Crocker took over that portfolio, while Shaw was moved to oversee transport and planning.
Introduction of Political Assistants
Finch led the push to hire political assistants shortly after becoming leader in July 2025. The decision narrowly passed full council approval through the casting vote of then-chair Ed Harris, a Reform member at the time. Unlike regular council officers, these assistants have discretion to speak to the public to influence support for a political party and to publish materials intended to affect public support.
The roles were initially funded from backup funds until March, with Reform allocating a permanent budget of £156,000 per year from 2026-27 to cover salaries and on-costs. The Liberal Democrats and Conservatives included this funding in their alternative budget proposals, while Labour and the Green Party did not. However, the Greens later agreed to its inclusion in a joint proposal with the Lib Dems, which ultimately fell through. In the end, the Conservatives supported a modified Reform budget, meaning any decision to cut funding for political assistants would require a fresh vote.
Shaw's Vote and Response
Like his group, Shaw voted for the political assistants in July 2025 and for Reform's budget in February. When asked about his private comments, he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: 'I want the best value for money for the residents of Warwickshire but I have nothing more to say on the matter.' He declined to distance himself from the remarks.
Finch's Defense
Finch stated that he and Shaw had agreed during budget setting that 'political assistants are very important to the direction of the council.' He added: 'Unfortunately, we have seen the establishment running the council for a number of years, not the political leadership. That was why we brought them in originally. Yes, we all want value for money for Warwickshire taxpayers and that is why political assistants are very important. Most councils have them anyway, so it is not a debate about not having them.'
When pressed on Shaw's failure to clarify his comments, Finch insisted Shaw remained 'fully on board with having political assistants' and dismissed contrary suggestions as 'vicious Liberal lies.' He accused the 'lefty Liberals' of trying to split the group and the council, adding: 'We are sticking to our guns. We think the political assistant is great value for money as it creates an atmosphere where the administration is free to govern and not bow down to the establishment.'
