Advance UK Doncaster has attacked Reform UK after an extraordinary meeting of the City of Doncaster Council nosedived with chaotic scenes, following false allegations that staff had altered a Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) motion without permission.

Councillor Jason Charity, Reform UK deputy leader, accused senior council staff of altering a DSA lease-linked motion from Cllr Craig Ward, the Reform UK group leader, without his permission.

However, the party was forced to backtrack on Tuesday, March 10, after the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) verified communications from Cllr Ward approving the changes.

Cllr Nicola Brown, Advance UK group leader, issued a statement following the Reform u-turn. She said: “We were misled by information provided to us which we believed to be accurate at the time.

Councillor Nicola Brown said opposition councillors were “misled” by Reform over the motion changes. | Nicola Brown

placeholder image — Councillor Nicola Brown said opposition councillors were “misled” by Reform over the motion changes. | Nicola Brown

“I’m grateful I sought further advice before acting, as it could have seriously damaged my credibility and the credibility of those who supported the motion in good faith. This highlights exactly why due process and verification matter in local government.”

Reform UK Doncaster did not respond when approached by the LDRS regarding Cllr Brown’s comments in time for publication.

However, earlier in the week, Reform UK said Cllr Ward had acknowledged he did not read the email in sufficient detail before responding and that it is “an error of judgement he accepts”.

Craig Ward, group leader of Reform UK Doncaster | Reform UK Doncaster

The party revealed that Cllr Ward gave his permission for the changes in a WhatsApp conversation with the council’s chief executive, Damian Allen.

Cllr Charity said he believed this was not “adequate process” and would be raising it with the Audit Committee, which he chairs.

A spokesperson for Doncaster Council said after the chaotic EGM: “Motions put forward for debate in the council chamber are submitted by a requisitioner and go through a due process ahead of them being publicised, ordinarily a week in advance of the meeting.James Hardisty.James Hardisty.

Doncaster Council is seeking to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. | James Hardisty.

“Motions’ wording has been agreed before they are discussed in the council chamber – this was the case here. The motion was agreed as a proper and legal motion with the approval of the leader of the Reform Group. It was circulated to all requisitioners ahead of the council agenda being issued.

“If there were any issues with the agreed motions, then they need to be raised with the proper officer at the council before the meeting takes place. The extraordinary full council has been adjourned to a future date to be determined.”

Reform UK had asked for the EGM, with the support of Conservative councillors, in order to raise questions about the DSA lease agreement leaked in January 2026.

The lease, agreed between the council and the airport landowners, Peel Land, in March 2024, contained a number of clauses which proved controversial.

A council meeting on the day details of the lease were published by journalists encountered significant turbulence as opposition councillors repeatedly interjected demanding a debate on the topic.

However, there is no mechanism within Doncaster Council’s constitution to begin an impromptu debate, especially on an item not on the published agenda.

The motion put forward by Reform UK for the March 6 EGM was abandoned without a vote and will not be discussed again when the adjourned meeting reconvenes at a later date.