By Archie Mitchell
Reform UK is under fire for letting teenagers run vital public services after storming to power in councils across the country in May鈥檚 local elections.
The party has been criticised for letting 18-year-old George Finch run Warwickshire County Council, which has a budget of around 拢500m and assets of 拢1.5bn.
Now, some two months after it took over 10 councils in the local elections, it has emerged a slew of other high profile roles have been taken on by teenagers.
On Leicestershire County Council, Reform councillor Charles Pugsley, 19, has been made the cabinet member for children and family services, The Guardian reported.
Meanwhile, 22-year-old Joseph Boam has been made deputy council leader and put in charge of adult social care, having previously claimed that 鈥渄epression isn鈥檛 real鈥, the paper revealed.
Both youngsters are reportedly opposed to councils flying flags in support of the LGBT+ community and disabled people鈥檚 rights, one of Reform鈥檚 first policies rolled out across local authorities.
Campaigners Hope Not Hate claimed Mr Boam had posted praise for misogynistic influencer Andrew Tate on a now-deactivated social media account. The same account contained the 鈥渄epression isn鈥檛 real鈥 remark, with fellow councillor鈥檚 complaining to Reform鈥檚 leader in Leicestershire.
Mr Boam has described the allegations as 鈥渇ake news鈥.
A Conservative councillor and leader of the opposition on Leicestershire County Council expressed unease at the appointment of the pair in such high profile roles. Deborah Taylor told The Guardian: 鈥淚 am a huge champion of young people and young councillors but what really concerns me is that new young councillors should be nurtured rather than being thrown in at the deep end to what can be a quite full-on role where there is exposure to some real trauma and difficult decisions.鈥
One social worker at the council told the paper: 鈥淭here is some confidence that much of what is being delivered can鈥檛 be changed because it is statutory and underpinned by legislation. But there are areas were resources are being allocated on a 鈥榮pend to save鈥 basis, such as early interventions for families who may, for example, have had multiple removals of children.鈥
The British Association of Social Workers said the roles are 鈥渧ery important鈥 and oversee hundreds of millions of pounds in spending. Chair Julia Ross said she recognises the value of fresh perspectives, candidates for such roles should be experienced in running complex departments and a knowledge of their duties supporting some of the most vulnerable in society.
Responding to critics who have questioned his age, Mr Pugsley said on X: 鈥淪ome say I鈥檓 young. I say that鈥檚 exactly what this role needs.
鈥淚 understand the challenges young people face today because I鈥檝e been there. Now I鈥檓 making sure young voices are heard.鈥
But Green councillor Naomi Bottomley hit back, adding: 鈥淗e also went to a private school and is a landlord, so I鈥檓 not sure he has quite the same experience as many vulnerable young people.鈥
Mr Finch took over as leader of Warwickshire County Council after his predecessor Rob Howard quit within weeks of being elected.
Mr Howard cited health challenges preventing him from 鈥渃arrying out the role to the level and standard that I would wish鈥.
The change means Mr Finch, a former member of the Conservative Party, is now responsible for the council, with 拢1.5bn of assets and a budget of around 拢500m.
In an interview with The Telegraph after taking over, Mr Finch vowed to take on 鈥渢he blob鈥 and pointed out that 鈥淢ike Tyson was the youngest heavyweight boxer of the world鈥, aged 20.