Councillor behind airport firm rejoins Reform UK

A councillor who was removed from Reform UK after he set up a private company aiming to do business with Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) has been allowed to rejoin the party, pending a review.

David Knight was ejected from the Reform UK group on the city council after the creation of Fly Doncaster (Auxiliary Services) Ltd in September 2025.

The business shared much of its name with Fly Doncaster Ltd, the arms-length company set up by the local authority to run DSA upon its re-opening.

At the time Knight sat on the council committee which was set to scrutinise and review the plans to open the airport using public funds.

Knight, who represents who represents Thorne and Moorends ward, was stripped of the party whip by then-group leader Guy Aston, who said his colleague had established the company "without consultation" and "caused reputational damage."

Aston told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) it was essential for the public to have trust in elected representatives.

"Reform UK expects the highest standards of accountability and integrity from its councillors, and I will always act to protect those standards," he said at the time.

On 18 December Knight was added back to the Reform UK group on the Doncaster Council website, despite Fly Doncaster (Auxiliary Services) Ltd still being registered as active on Companies House.

A spokesman for Reform UK confirmed Knight had been reinstated pending a formal review of the circumstances surrounding the establishment of Fly Doncaster (Auxiliary Services) Ltd and the events leading up to his suspension from the party.

Speaking to the LDRS after rejoining the party, Knight denied making any errors when setting up the company and claimed his suspension was "without foundation".

Asked whether he accepted the conflict of interest concerns people shared following the establishment of his business, Knight said: "There's a yes and no to that at the end of the day.

"I have worked with the council now for 25 years in various formats."

He suggested there was little difference between his business and St Leger Homes of Doncaster or Fly Doncaster Ltd, despite both being owned by the City of Doncaster Council, not elected members.

Founding the business, which Knight did alongside fellow Reform UK councillor Rachel Reed, was entirely legal, but something the party said it would not have approved of.

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