Two former Reform UK councillors have hit out at the party over its plans to U-turn on a £57 million loan to re-open Doncaster Sheffield Airport – accusing the party of bullying councillors to agree to the deal last November.

Councillors Chris Marriott and Nicola Brown – who were formerly Reform councillors before defecting to Advance UK – have said they will not back their former colleagues over plans to reverse the move, which Labour has said will “kill” the airport’s plans for take off.

In a statement, the pair said: “Advance UK’s position on the extraordinary council meeting called to reconsider the £57 million loan supporting the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport is clear.

“The people of Doncaster have spoken. They want their airport open. We have listened.

Former Reform UK councillors Nicola Brown and Chris Marriott, now with Advance UK, have blasted Reform UK over its plans to reverse a £57 million loan deal for Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

placeholder image — Former Reform UK councillors Nicola Brown and Chris Marriott, now with Advance UK, have blasted Reform UK over its plans to reverse a £57 million loan deal for Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

“Reform UK bullied councillors into voting this loan through in November 2025.

"As one of those councillors, I know exactly how that pressure was applied. It is one of the reasons I left Reform UK.

"Now the same party wants to reverse the decision, creating chaos at a critical moment for our city.

“This vote it in, vote it out approach with public money risks damaging investor confidence in Doncaster for years to come and could, as has been suggested, kill the airport reopening entirely.

“Advance UK will not be supporting this motion to rescind the decision. We stand with the people of Doncaster who have made their feelings clear.

“Private investment remains the long term answer. But right now, reversing this decision serves nobody except Reform UK’s political agenda.

“Doncaster has waited long enough for its airport. Advance UK will not be part of derailing that.”

Both the Labour mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones and South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard have united to condemn Reform, saying the move would kill off plans to re-open the airport, which has been shut since 2022.

In response, Reform UK Doncaster have issued a statement saying: “Reform UK Doncaster is fully committed to seeing Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopen. We believe a thriving airport is vital for jobs, investment, and the future of our region – and we will fight for that.

“But being committed to the airport means being committed to getting the DEAL RIGHT for Doncaster’s people.”