Reform UK councillor George Finch has said a letter he sent to the education secretary on school taxis in Warwickshire is being used as “political football”.

The leader of Warwickshire County Council wrote seeking permission for councils to set their own rules over children’s walking distances between home and school to save them money.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson accused Reform of dragging children “back to the Victorian era”.

Finch, speaking to BBC CWR on Friday, said he wrote the letter to get the “best deal” for vulnerable children”.