Councillor quits Reform for second time in 2 weeks

A City of Doncaster councillor has joined a new party after quitting Reform UK for the second time in a fortnight.

Nicola Brown resigned over the decision by Reform UK to vote to borrow £57m to re-open Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Brown said she supported opening the airport "but not at the cost of putting Doncaster people and our public services at unacceptable financial risk for the next 25 years," as she joined Advance UK.

A Reform UK spokesperson said they were disappointed by Brown's decision, but that the party remained "committed to the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport and delivering on the promises we made during the election".

Brown, who represents Adwick & Carcroft, revealed in a statement that she had wanted to vote against the borrowing until more was known about an alternative consortium interested in taking on the airport.

She said she was told she would lose the party whip if she did not vote in favour and was advised to stay away from the meeting if she wanted to abstain.

"After a lot of thought and soul-searching I realised this kind of pressure is inevitable the next time a difficult decision comes up for Doncaster, and the only way to stay true to my conscience and the people of Doncaster is to leave Reform," she added.

An overwhelming majority of Doncaster councillors voted in favour of borrowing the £57m for the airport reopening.

Brown previously resigned from Reform UK on November 28, following the full council meeting to vote on the DSA borrowing. However, she withdrew her resignation and was re-listed as a Reform UK councillor.

Brown added: "Under Advance UK I can serve my constituents better: with freedom of speech, without fear of threats or pressure, and with complete faith in a leadership that truly cares."

Advance UK was set up by former Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib after a falling out with Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf.

The political party, which had been backed by far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson, was officially registered to stand candidates in the UK on 4 December.

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