Reform UK has confirmed a new deputy leader as the previous one stepped down to "focus exclusively on his finance & property portfolio".

Cllr Stephen Shaw has stepped back from the post as deputy group leader, the party confirmed in a media statement this weekend.

He will remain as a councillor and cabinet member. He will remain as deputy leader at Warwickshire County Council (WCC) until the council's AGM in May.

Cllr Shaw will be replaced as deputy group leader by Cllr James Crocker.

County councillors will need to vote on who the new WCC deputy will be.

The move was confirmed at Reform's Warwickshire annual general meeting last week where Cllr George Finch was also reconfirmed as the group leader.

He stood uncontested for the position.

Cllr Crocker said: "I'm honoured to have received the support of the Reform Group to be deputy leader.

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"As with all my colleagues, my commitment is to the good people of this county – they put us here, and we will deliver for them. I look forward to getting stuck into my new role."

Cllr James Crocker is the new deputy leader of the Reform UK group in Warwickshire (image supplied)

Cllr Finch survived a vote of no confidence at Shire Hall last month by just one month. Reform councillors were told to back him by the central party, even if it meant losing control at WCC.

The leader said: "I'm delighted to have been re-elected unopposed as Leader of the Reform Group on Warwickshire County Council.

"My group is united behind me as this administration delivers better services, safer communities and lower waste for the people of Warwickshire.

"We are excited to continue carrying out the mandate we were given in May last year.

"I thank my friend Stephen Shaw for his devoted service to our county and to our mission, including his hard work on the budget and for spearheading our value for money programme which is delivering real savings for taxpayers."