Reform UK Doncaster leader refused interviews due to 'prior commitment', seen in pub garden minutes later
Councillor Craig Ward declined interviews due to a prior commitment, but was subsequently seen in a beer garden with other councillors.
The leader of Reform UK Doncaster was spotted in a pub garden minutes after refusing interviews because he was busy with a “prior meeting commitment”.
It followed a crunch extraordinary meeting on May 11, 2026, which Councillor Craig Ward’s party had called in order to rescind a £57million loan supporting Doncaster Sheffield Airport’s reopening – with Cllr Ward the named proposer on the rescission motion.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) requested an interview with Cllr Ward on May 8, 2026, to take place after the extraordinary meeting three days later. During the meeting, the LDRS was informed Cllr Ward would not be available and his deputy leader, Cllr Jason Charity, would speak to the media instead.
However, shortly after the extraordinary meeting concluded, Cllr Ward, whose party has long campaigned for better scrutiny, transparency and accountability at the council, was seen by the LDRS in the pub garden of The Harewood on Waterdale, Doncaster, directly across the road from the council building.
In a statement about why the group leader would not take part in interviews, a spokesperson for Reform UK Doncaster said: “Councillor Craig Ward, leader of the Reform Group on Doncaster Council, was unavailable for interview today due to a prior meeting commitment.
“However, he was fully confident that deputy leader Jason Charity was best placed to represent the group’s position and respond to questions on the matter. The Reform Group remains united in its approach and committed to engaging openly with the media and the public.”
Cllr Charity spoke with various media outlets following the meeting, explaining his party’s decision to not rescind the loan in favour of more stringent scrutiny measures.
This includes a written commitment that any new lease agreed with the Doncaster Sheffield Airport landowner, the Peel Group, is made available to councillors before it is approved.
The extraordinary meeting was also the first time since February 2026 that Cllr Ward has been present for a council meeting.
It comes amid growing dissatisfaction in the Reform UK Doncaster backbenches of unhappiness with the group leadership.
Multiple party sources have informed the LDRS that Cllr Ward has been absent from a number of party meetings in recent weeks.
Additionally, as previously reported by the LDRS, some Reform UK councillors were not sold on the motion to rescind the airport loan, which was proposed by Cllr Ward.