THE LEADER of Warwickshire County Council has been accused of ‘political censorship’ by suggesting he could seek to remove materials relating to ‘sex, gender and identity’ from the county’s libraries.
The council’s Reform UK leader Coun George Finch has claimed libraries in the county have ‘promoted contested gender ideology’.
But Warwickshire Pride accused him of ‘political targeting’ and ‘adopting language that further marginalises members of our community’.
Coun Finch said: “Libraries should be politically neutral, family-friendly, and not seek to embolden political ideologies. The council should not be actively promoting contested political or ideological causes to children.”
He said his administration would work on a policy to ‘strengthen neutrality, increase safeguarding, and provide parents with peace of mind that their children are not being told to believe one set of political ideas over any other’.
“This policy will cover not just our libraries, but all Warwickshire County Council-owned public spaces,” he added.
The Board of Trustees at Warwickshire Pride said Coun Finch’s words were ‘misleading and dangerous’.
They said: “Coun Finch’s statement presents the existence of transgender people and information about LGBTQ+ identities as a political ideology rather than the lived reality of thousands of people across Warwickshire.
“Being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise part of the LGBTQ+ community is not an ideology. It is not a political campaign. It is not a belief system. It is simply part of the rich diversity of human experience.
“Representation is not indoctrination. Inclusion is not political campaigning. Ensuring that LGBTQ+ people can see themselves reflected in books, educational materials, and public spaces is no different from ensuring that people of different faiths, ethnicities, disabilities, ages, and backgrounds are represented.”
They said Warwickshire Pride’s book groups at libraries in the county brought communities together, encouraged learning, and fostered understanding between people from different walks of life.
They added: “Library employees should not be subjected to political attacks simply for ensuring that library collections reflect the diversity of the people they serve.
“We are particularly concerned by the implication that information relating to gender identity and LGBTQ+ lives requires special scrutiny. Such rhetoric risks creating an environment where LGBTQ+ people are singled out, treated as inherently controversial, and excluded from public life.
“Coun Finch states that WCC should ‘inform and serve residents, not campaign at them’. We agree. The council’s role is to serve all residents equally. Public institutions should be places where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and valued.
“History teaches us important lessons about what happens when politicians begin deciding which books, ideas, identities, or groups are acceptable in public spaces. The book burnings of Nazi Germany stand as one of history’s starkest warnings about the dangers of restricting access to information, suppressing diverse viewpoints, and targeting minority communities.
“While today’s circumstances are clearly different, the principle remains relevant: public bodies should not seek to limit access to information simply because it relates to a minority group or because some people find it uncomfortable. Libraries should be places of learning, exploration, and understanding, not tools for political censorship.”
Warwickshire Pride has submitted a formal complaint under Warwickshire County Council’s Code of Conduct regarding Coun Finch’s statements, and called on him to withdraw his comments.
The trustees added: “We believe elected representatives have a responsibility to uphold standards of respect, equality, and inclusion for all residents, particularly those from minority communities.
“The Leader of the Council has a responsibility to represent every resident of Warwickshire, not just those who share his personal or political views.”
Coun Sarah Boad, leader of WCC’s Liberal Democrat Group, said libraries should not be ‘weaponised’.
She said: “The group is disappointed that we now face the prospect of the Reform UK administration trying to take steps that could discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community. This is an administration that has committed to creating ‘safe, inclusive places where people from different backgrounds can live and interact positively’, and yet, targeting LGBTQ+ books, and the people they represent, does the precise opposite.
“History reminds us of where censorship leads, and the lesson is always the same: an open and democratic society trusts people to read widely, rather than deciding on their behalf what they may and may not see. We will not let Warwickshire go backwards.
“We therefore fully support the statement issued by Warwickshire Pride, and we will do everything we can to ensure that every resident in Warwickshire, including LGBTQ+ residents, feel welcomed, safe, and respected in our libraries.”
Conservative Group leader Coun Adrian Warwick said his group believed that ‘libraries should be for everyone’ – but also welcomed Reform’s proposed review.
He said: “The Conservatives believe in duty, liberty, and equality before the law regardless of race, sex or sexual orientation. We believe in the primacy of the family, and the protection of children.
We fully respect adults’ rights to make choices about their own lives.
“Public institutions exist to serve everyone, not to endorse particular political or ideological
movements. The Conservative Group in Warwickshire therefore welcomes this local review.
“The group is concerned that some parents will be more reluctant to take their children to Warwickshire Libraries to engage with reading in an age-appropriate way.
“We encourage all Warwickshire residents to visit their local libraries, and we hope that if nothing else comes of this review, attention on our libraries will at the very least lead more people to pick up a book and put down their phone.”
Deputy Green Group Leader Coun Will Roberts said that to remove books because of political ideology was itself a case of political ideology.
He added: “Coun Finch makes it sound like because a certain book is on the shelf, you’ll read the cover and become converted.
“Gender is not an ideology, it is a human right, and it is deeply concerning that Coun Finch wishes to attack human rights in this way.
“Is his next step to remove all books that reference political thought? If so, this would be an attack on democracy itself.
“Warwickshire is the county of Shakespeare and George Eliot, and is now proposing to ban books. We only need to look at the history of the last century to understand how banning books can lead us all into darkness.
“Libraries give people the opportunity to read books – they do not force anybody to read them. The Green Party will be standing against any attacks on democracy or human rights.”
Warwickshire Labour Group said Coun Finch’s comments were ‘deeply worrying’ and accused him of ‘importing divisive culture-war politics’ into the county.
Group leader Coun Sarah Feeney said: “He has chosen to make inflammatory claims about our libraries and dedicated staff – yet he has failed to identify a single book, a single campaign, a single event or a single example to support them.
“The people who decide what materials are appropriate for different audiences are trained and qualified librarians, not politicians chasing headlines.
“Libraries have always been places of learning, discovery and opportunity. They are not vehicles for political indoctrination.
“If he believes there is genuinely inappropriate material in Warwickshire libraries, he should tell the public exactly what it is. Until then, his comments look less like a serious policy intervention and more like an attempt to import divisive culture-war politics into a county that has far more pressing priorities.”
