Members of Advance UK Doncaster will sit in meetings of the Labour Mayor of Doncaster’s “executive group” after accepting an offer previously refused by the Conservatives and Reform UK.

Advance UK, which was officially registered as a political party in December 2025, informed the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the decision represented the local party’s commitment to cross-party working.

Group leader, Councillor Nicola Brown, said: “We’ve done it because we just want to act in the best interest for the people of Doncaster and that’s the way we feel Advance can do it, rather than just arguing in the chamber all the time – which is what seems to happen.

“All I’m interested in is doing my best for the people of Doncaster.”

placeholder image — Civic Office, Doncaster

Mayor Ros Jones, who represents the Labour Party, made a similar offer to the Reform UK and Conservative groups on the City of Doncaster Council following the local elections in May 2025.

Both groups declined the offer, citing concerns about the meetings being “backroom” discussions with “no real scrutiny”.

Coun Guy Aston, who was then the leader of the Reform UK group, said at the time: “We were not being offered what I would consider genuine cabinet positions. There were no portfolios, no authority, no decision making.

“We did not quite thoroughly understand why we should be there and we have turned it down.”

Likewise, Coun Steve Cox, leader of the Conservative group on the council, informed the Mayor his party would also not be involved.

He wrote: “There is a structure already in place to have conversations with all councillors from all parties, it’s called scrutiny.”

Mayor Jones’ office has repeatedly refuted suggestions the behind-closed-doors meeting would fetter the council’s due process.

The LDRS asked Coun Brown if she shared similar concerns about the offer, which she admitted she did.

But she added: “We get to look at issues and put our opinions forward. That’s how we’re seeing it, rather than constantly arguing. It’s a better solution to have the information in front of us.”

Advance UK Doncaster said both Coun Brown and her deputy, Coun Christopher Marriott – the only two Advance UK councillors on the city council – would attend the executive group meetings.

The pair were elected for the first time in May 2025 as Reform UK councillors. Both left the party in the second half of 2025, before joining Advance UK after it was registered as a political party.

The executive group is not the same as cabinet meetings and are held privately, to discuss upcoming decisions to be made by Mayor Jones and her cabinet.

Officially, the move grants Advance UK no power whatsoever. Under Doncaster Council’s directly elected mayor system, 95 per cent of decisions are made by the elected Mayor and her cabinet members.

However, Advance UK said it “remains fully independent and will continue to provide robust scrutiny where required”.

A spokesperson for Mayor Ros Jones said: “I welcome representation from Advance to join the Executive Group, it will enable Advance councillors to help shape policy decisions and collaborate on areas of common ground.

“We have all been elected to represent the people of Doncaster. Residents and businesses want to see that local politicians can put aside party politics wherever possible in order to work together to Deliver for Doncaster.”