A Doncaster councillor has dramatically quit Reform UK – for the second time – and defected to Advance UK, the new political party launched by former Reform deputy leader Ben Habib and backed by Tommy Robinson.
Cllr Nicola Brown, who represents Adwick & Carcroft on City of Doncaster Council, becomes Advance UK’s first councillor in the area.
Her departure comes amid growing fractures inside Reform UK, with Brown accusing the party of trying to force her into backing a £57 million borrowing package for Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) – a vote she says “violated her conscience”.
🔵 Why Nicola Brown quit Reform UK
In a detailed statement, Cllr Brown said Reform UK’s leadership attempted to strong-arm councillors into voting yes to the £57m DSA borrowing plan, warning they risked losing the whip if they voted against it.
She said she was told:
“Vote yes -or vote no and lose the whip.”
“If you want to abstain then stay away from the meeting.”
Brown argued that while she supports reopening the airport, she refuses to back a financial package she believes would “put Doncaster at unacceptable risk for the next 25 years”.
She added:
“My decision is not about Doncaster Reform councillors – they work incredibly hard. It’s about a party that wanted me to go against my conscience. That pressure will return in the future. The only way to stay true to the people of Doncaster is to leave.”
NEW 🚨: Councillor Nicola Brown has defected from Reform UK to Ben Habib's Advance UK, she has confirmed to the LDRS
She will become Advance's first councillor on the City of Doncaster Council. Mr Habib called her a "principled lady… concerned about the state of the country" pic.twitter.com/wAPIC7UuOG
Brown said Advance UK offers her the freedom Reform UK could not:
“Under Advance UK I can serve my constituents better – with freedom of speech, without threats or pressure, and with faith in a leadership that truly cares.”
Ben Habib, now leader of Advance UK, welcomed her defection, describing Brown as a “principled woman” who recognises that:
“Reform UK still carries the hopes of many people – but sadly the reality of Reform no longer matches those hopes.”
Advance UK welcomes Nicola Brown as she becomes the newest Councillor to join the Party, leaving Reform UK over issues of principle, accountability, leadership and financial responsibility in Doncaster.
Advance UK was officially registered on 4 December 2025 and positions itself as the “movement Reform should have been”.
🔧 What triggered the row: The £57m Doncaster Sheffield Airport borrowing
Doncaster Council overwhelmingly approved the £57m borrowing package – the final step required to progress the airport’s reopening, a promise made by Mayor Ros Jones.
Reform UK leadership ordered its councillors to support the borrowing. Brown refused, saying she wanted full financial transparency and alternative private investment options explored before committing taxpayers to a 25-year repayment burden.
Reform responded with “disappointment” but insisted it remains committed to reopening the airport.
🔵 Tensions inside Reform UK revealed
Brown previously resigned from Reform UK on 28 November after the controversial council meeting – then briefly withdrew her resignation days later, before quitting permanently this week.
Reform sources have accused her of acting out of frustration and claimed she was expelled in August for alleged inappropriate behaviour – an allegation Brown “categorically denies”.
The split highlights deeper tensions within Reform, which has been hit by public rows, internal defections and a growing challenge from the newly formed Advance UK.
🟢 What this means for Doncaster politics
Advance UK gains its first councillor in the region
Reform UK loses one of its local standard-bearers
Doncaster Council moves forward on the DSA project with overwhelming cross-party backing
A new political rivalry – Reform vs Advance UK – may now emerge in South Yorkshire
At the time of writing, Brown is still listed as a Reform councillor on the official council website.
Jordon Scott is a digital media specialist and editor at The Daily Britain. He focuses on political coverage, platform strategy, and ensuring journalism remains accessible without compromising editorial standards.
He oversees publication structure, reach, and transparency across the site.
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