Reform shun offer to join mayor's executive group

Reform UK has rejected an offer to be part of a new-look Executive Group on Doncaster Council, after sweeping the board at the recent election.

The party won 37 of the 55 seats on the council, while Labour retained just 12 of the 40 it had previously held.

Labour's Ros Jones, who narrowly held on to her role as Mayor and leader of the authority, offered to work with Reform and the Conservatives, but declined to invite them to join her cabinet.

Reform group leader Guy Aston said the proposed group had "no portfolio [and] no decision making" and he was "not prepared to get involved," saying the party would impact decision making through normal scrutiny processes instead.

Speaking ahead of his first full council meeting, Aston described the 37 Reform councillors as a "citizens army".

"We have cracked the two party system here more than anywhere else," he said.

"Our councillors are citizens first, they were not attached for years to political parties and they didn't attend branch meetings.

"These are concerned citizens now in power, they want the best for Doncaster not for their own political ideologies."

Aston, who previously served in the Royal Navy, would not be drawn on specific policies but did say he wanted a "constructive relationship" with the Mayor and would scrutinise policies on a "piece by piece basis".

"There is no point in us bringing the house down around our ears" he added.

Asked about the ongoing work to reopen Doncaster Airport he said while "nobody would not want an airport, it must not impact on the Doncaster council tax payer".

In response to questions about councillor Mark Broadhurst, who came under fire for historic posts on Facebook, he said the matter was being "referred to the council".

"It is not acceptable, the vetting was quite thorough, but something has gone wrong" he said.

Aston's decision to reject Jones' offer came after the Conservative Group leader also turn down the invitation.

In a letter to the Mayor, Steve Cox said he and deputy leader, Nick Allen, did not want to be part of "back room" discussions "with no scrutiny".

"That's not how democratic decision making should work and you know it," he said.

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