"I'm not paid to do work of your Reform councillors," says ousted Labour councillor
A former Doncaster Labour councillor has told a trio of Reform UK councillors who replaced him to represent their constituents after revealing he is being bombarded for help by locals and said: “I don’t get paid to do the role of your newly elected Reform councillors.”
Mark Houlbrook lost his Thorne and Moorends ward seat in last May’s City of Doncaster Council elections, with Reform UK enjoying a clean sweep, taking all three seats in the ward.
Fed up Mr Houlbrook says he is still being innundated for help by constituents following the election – and has called on Reform UK councillors Dave Knight, Glyn Whiting and Kieran Lay to step up to the plate.
In a post on social media, he wrote: “Over the past nine months I have been receiving increased correspondence, telephone calls and messages from residents that are City of Doncaster Council related.
"I have never ignored their plight for help.
"In May 2025, the people of Thorne and Moorends voted to return Reform councillors as their choice of representation in our area. This was a democratic mandate. They should represent.
"With immediate effect, I wish to inform residents, that I will not be using Messenger, Facebook or What's App or any other social media platform to receive any correspondence relating to the City of Doncaster Council or in any capacity as a Councillor.
"Any correspondence sent in this way will be deleted or not answered.
If residents wish to contact me, in my capacity as a Thorne and Moorends Town Councillor, I can be contacted on the following email only below. This must be Town Council related.
Mark.Houlbrook@thorne_moorends.gov.uk
"My sincere apologies for making this statement but neither do I have the time nor do I get paid to do the role of your newly elected Reform councillors.
"Please contact City of Doncaster Council on 01302 736000 to obtain a contact detail for your Reform ward Councillors.”
Reform took a majority of seats at last May’s council elections, taking 37 seats and reducing Labour to just 12.
However, Labour still retains overall power, with Mayor Ros Jones leading the council.