A Doncaster councillor previously removed from Reform UK over the controversial establishment of a private company aiming to do business with Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) has been allowed to rejoin the party pending a review.

Councillor David Knight, who represents Thorne and Moorends ward, was ejected from the Reform UK group on the City of Doncaster 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 Doncaster Council to run DSA upon its re-opening.

It caused controversy as Coun Knight sat on the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC), which was set to scrutinise and review the plans to open the airport using public funds.

Coun David Knight of City of Doncaster Council

placeholder image — Coun David Knight of City of Doncaster Council

He was quickly stripped of the party whip by then-group leader Councillor Guy Aston, who said Knight had established the company “without consultation” and “caused reputational damage” placing the group’s work under unnecessary strain.

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

“As Leader, I have therefore withdrawn the whip and removed him from committee roles. 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 Thursday (Dec 18) Coun 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.

Reform UK group leader on City of Doncaster Council.

A spokesman for the party said: “Reform UK can confirm that the whip in relation to Coun Knight has been reinstated pending a formal review of the circumstances surrounding the establishment of Fly Doncaster (Auxiliary Services) Ltd and the events leading up to the initial decision to suspend the whip.

“Reform UK is committed to due process, proportionality, and sound governance.”

Knight’s reinstatement to the party comes just weeks after Aston stepped down as group leader, after being undermined in the chamber by his backbenches.

Speaking to the LDRS after rejoining the party, Knight said that he and Aston had talked it out.

“There’s no animosity within the party for the learning curves we have been through,” Knight said.

Knight said there were no “errors” on his behalf when he set 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 – who had to step down as deputy leader and chair of OSMC as a result, but did not lose the whip – was entirely legal, but something the party said it would not have approved of.