We, the residents, students, and workers of Warwickshire, call for the immediate resignation or removal of Councillor Wayne Briggs from his position on the Warwickshire County Council Cabinet as the Portfolio Holder for Children & Families, Education and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).

Furthermore, we declare a complete lack of confidence in the Reform UK council administration’s ongoing targeted campaign against the LGBTQIA+ community, specifically regarding proposed funding cuts to EQUIP (Equality & Inclusion Partnership) and the planned ideological censorship of our public libraries.

Why this petition matters:

1. Vile and Hostile Comments Targeting LGBTQIA+ People:
On June 17, 2026, an internal email from Cllr Wayne Briggs to the Council Chair was made public. Written in response to a request to fly the Pride flag, Cllr Briggs launched an abusive, transphobic tirade, claiming that the Pride movement has been "hijacked by groomers, and mentally ill men in dresses" and writing off gender-affirming identities as a "dangerous ideology." 

These comments are not just deeply offensive; they are dangerous. Cllr Briggs holds the ultimate political responsibility for the safety, education, and social care of Warwickshire's most vulnerable children. When the individual in charge of children's care actively labels LGBTQIA+ people as a threat and a "degradation of our society," he forfeits the trust required to protect all youth—regardless of their gender identity or family structure. 

2. Rejecting the "Personal Opinion" Excuse:
Following the leak, Council Leader George Finch defended Cllr Briggs, stating he was merely expressing a "personal view in private correspondence." Cllr Briggs himself echoed this, refusing to apologise and claiming his comments do not affect his public duties. 

We reject this entirely. A "personal opinion" does not grant an elected official immunity from accountability, nor does it exist in a vacuum. It is impossible to separate a politician’s deeply held prejudices from the real-world decisions they make. A public official who privately holds such hostility toward marginalised groups cannot be trusted to design fair, impartial, and safe policies for those exact groups in public.

3. A Coordinated Attack on Equality and Inclusion:
Cllr Briggs’ comments are not an isolated incident; they align directly with a string of hostile policy manoeuvres by the Reform UK administration:

• Defunding EQUIP: The administration has initiated consultations to slash vital funding for EQUIP (Equality & Inclusion Partnership), an essential organisation that supports local victims of hate crimes and tackles discrimination across Warwickshire.
• Censorship of Public Libraries: Under the guise of maintaining "neutrality," the administration has announced sweeping plans to audit and target library books and resources relating to LGBTQIA+ lives and gender identity, effectively threatening to wipe out representation for marginalised communities.

Our Demands:

1. The immediate resignation of Councillor Wayne Briggs from the Warwickshire County Council and his removal from the Children, Families, and Education cabinet portfolio.
2. A full reversal of plans to cut funding to EQUIP and a commitment to protecting hate-crime support services.
3. An immediate halt to the politically motivated review of library resources, ensuring that libraries remain inclusive, safe spaces for everyone.

By signing this petition, you are telling Warwickshire County Council that hate, bigotry, and systemic discrimination have no place in our local government. We demand leaders who see the worth of every child and resident without reservation.