A Labour MP has accused Reform UK’s teen council leader George Finch of peddling “far-right” rhetoric in a fiery row about conversion therapy.
North Warwickshire & Bedworth MP Rachel Taylor launched a furious attack against the 19-year during a meeting about banning conversion therapy.
The session, intended to build support for ending harmful practices, took an unexpected turn as Ms Taylor fixated on Mr Finch’s comments about fatherhood.
“I have to put up with a 19-year-old council leader in Warwickshire, someone who has said dads need to be dads,” Ms Taylor said.
“He was supposedly the best candidate.
“This sort of rhetoric has no place in the country.”
Ms Taylor’s comments came despite a clear call for unity from Women & Equalities Minister Olivia Bailey MP.
Ms Bailey had been urging attendees to “find common ground” and focus on “decency not division”.
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George Finch became the youngest council leader in the country earlier this year
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GETTYThe meeting had opened in a tone of consensus, with Labour MPs, Stonewall and others looking to make progress on long-delayed plans to outlaw conversion therapy once and for all.
However, Ms Taylor’s remarks caused a visible stir among attendees and drew criticism for targeting a young individual.
Mr Finch, who became the youngest council leader in the country earlier this year, has attracted attention for his traditionalist views and meteoric rise within Reform UK.
He previously stated that “dads need to be dads”, prompting his critics to suggest he is unsuitable to lead Warwickshire County Council.
Rachel Taylor MP took aim at George Finch over his ‘dads need to be dads’ comment
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“The rise of far-right rhetoric is there to close us down,” Ms Taylor said.
She also warned that views such as Mr Finch’s were part of a broader, more dangerous trend creeping into public life.
However, Reform UK hit back, accusing the Labour MP of hijacking a serious discussion with an unnecessary personal attack.
“We won’t accept lecturing from a Labour MP, their track record has proven them unfit to pass judgements of any sort,” a Reform spokesman said.
“Councillor Finch is a democratically elected council leader, one that is committed to his constituents and the demands of residents.”
One attendee also said that the remarks were “disappointing and avoidable”.
They added: “If we can’t talk about banning conversion therapy without it turning into a political event, what hope do we have?”
The comments appeared to overshadow a broader conversation about conversion therapy.
A Reform UK spokesman described George Finch as being ‘committed to his constituents’
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X/GEORGE FINCHSir Keir Starmer included a ban on the practice in his King’s Speech last year.
The Conservative Government first committed to banning conversion practices in 2018.
However, after years of uncertainty and wavering support, any mention of a ban was absent from the 2023 King’s Speech.
The Tories ultimately failed to deliver on its promise to ban the practice, prompting two Private Member’s Bill to make their way through both Houses of Parliament.
GB News has contacted Ms Taylor to clarify her remarks.