Doncaster Reform UK chairman demands "transparency" over airport "mismanagement"

Reform UK have come under fire from the city’s four MPs, mayors Ros Jones and Oliver Coppard and Save DSA campaigner Mark Chadwick in recent days after the party said it wanted a reverse a £57 million funding deal agreed to last November – with Labour politicians saying it would kill off the airport.

Doncaster Reform branch chairman Irwen Martin has now stepped in saying the airport deal was put together with “scant” regard for the peole of Doncaster and added: “Let me be clear - Reform UK Doncaster obviously wants the airport to open but not at any cost.”

In a lengthy statement, Mr Martin wrote: “Once again, it’s interesting to see how Mayor Ros Jones, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, the Labour MPs, along with their remaining supporters including the garage owner (Mr Chadwick) continue to blame anyone else but themselves for the mess surrounding Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

“Let’s be very clear - this deal was put together with scant regard for the people of Doncaster.

“Key decisions were made seemingly knowing that no one would dare ask any questions, let alone difficult ones.

“Remember, the original 125-year lease with the Peel Group — along with most of the other components of the reopening plan — was signed back in March 2024, well before the May 2025 elections.

“At that point, it was used to promise residents they’d be jetting off on holidays from DSA as early as Spring 2026. In fact, you should have been at the check-in desk right now.

“Labour and the executive controlled every aspect of the process at the time.

“Not one Labour councillor had the courage or incentive to question anything, when Reform councilors did dare to ask questions.

“Mayor Jones and the executive refused to answer those questions or supplied heavily redacted information with whole pages blanked out in a lot of cases, even now, after the controversial lease details leaked earlier this year revealing clauses that raised serious concerns over value for money and payments to Peel linked to turnover and planning permission.

“They still refuse to accept any responsibility for the failings contained in the original agreement.

“This in my opinion raises serious questions about other contracts and leases signed by Doncaster Labour Council.

“Given scrutiny was missing in the case of DSA, what else has slipped through without proper challenge?

“It’s easy for them to keep harping on about 14 years of Tory mismanagement. But what about Labour’s total mismanagement in Doncaster?

“And the glaring lack of proper scrutiny that has come with it? Once again.

"Let me be clear Reform UK Doncaster obviously wants the airport to open BUT not at any cost.”

“We and you the people of Doncaster deserve transparency.”

The airport, which opened in 2005, closed its doors in 2022 after owners Peel declared it unprofitable.

Since then a campaign for its re-opening is ongoing, with Labour saying it will open in 2028.