Doncaster Reform UK: Branch chairman steps down and councillor resigns to sit as independent
A prominent member of Doncaster Reform UK has resigned as branch chairman, alongside a local councillor who will now sit as an independent.
Irwen Martin confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that he had stepped down as the local branch chairman.
Mr Martin, who ran for parliament in Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme against Labour’s Lee Pitcher and the Conservative Nick Fletcher, has been chairman of the Doncaster branch of Reform UK since its inception.
He resigned last night, following a chaotic meeting of the City of Doncaster Council which saw Reform councillors turn on their group leader, Cllr Guy Aston.
Cllr Aston stepped down from his position “with immediate effect” this morning, claiming he had received “unpleasant, vitriolic texts that border on abuse”, some from his own councillors, since the end of the meeting.
Cllr Aston will remain a Reform UK councillor.
Mr Martin did not expand on the reasons for his resignation when asked by the LDRS.
His resignation follows a successful set of local elections in the city for Reform UK, when Martin steered the party to a majority on the council, despite not standing for election himself.
One of those councillors has also resigned from the party, according to the council website.
Councillor Nicola Brown, who was elected to represent the Adwick & Carcroft ward, will now sit as an independent councillor.
The LDRS has approached Cllr Brown for a comment.