Doncaster mayor loses symbolic no-confidence vote over airport row

A symbolic motion of no confidence in Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones passed at a full council meeting on Thursday by a 38-14 margin, filed by Reform UK councillor and party leader Guy Aston. The vote, described by council officials as purely symbolic, formally records that the council has no confidence in the mayor but does not revoke her office or statutory powers.

The motion centers on the timetable for Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) and Accusations that Jones misled the public over the reopening schedule. Reform UK has long criticized her pledge to reopen the airport, which had been marketed as a central element of Jones's mayoral campaign. The latest timetable indicates that the airport would not be fully operational before the summer of 2028, with freight operations expected to begin in 2027. The discrepancy between the earlier pledge of a spring 2026 reopening and the updated forecast has been a point of contention in the council chamber.

The motion explicitly acknowledges that it is a political statement and not an attempt to remove the mayor from office. It states in writing that the decision does not alter Jones's statutory powers, as defined under the Local Government Act 2000. The council’s decision was framed as a formal expression of political sentiment rather than a change in governance.

Jones responded to the motion with a firm rebuff. In remarks to fellow councillors, she said, "Let me make this very simple for you, I'm not going anywhere." She added that the motion was "nothing more than a party political performative waste of time. It holds no power and will not change a thing." The mayor’s comments were reported as she sought to frame the vote as a continuation of the airport development plan rather than a derailment of her leadership.

The political dynamics at Doncaster Council are shaped by party numbers. Reform UK controls a substantial majority with 36 councillors, while Labour holds 12 seats and the Conservatives have six. In that context, the no-confidence motion is largely symbolic yet serves as a focal point for ongoing tensions over the airport project and the council’s handling of the reopening program.

Observers have pointed to recent movements that align with the broader push to resurrect air services at DSA. Jones has, in recent weeks, voted with other regional leaders to approve funding of almost £160 million to reopen the airport and restore passenger flights to the region. The agreement from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority is set to accelerate the project: freight operations are anticipated to start in 2027, with a fully operational airport targeted for the summer of 2028. Support for the project has been framed by regional leaders as a catalyst for both transport connectivity and economic development in the area.

The timing of the vote occurs amid the government’s broader policy environment regarding regional aviation and transportation development. Labour representatives, while not directly opposing the airport redevelopment, argued that the motion is inappropriate for a council that has to deliver on long-term infrastructure goals. A Labour group spokesperson characterized the move as political posturing by a group described as not serious about the airport’s future, arguing that the focus should be on delivering the funding and the timetable that regional authorities have endorsed.

The debate surrounding DSA has featured multiple milestones in recent months. The council and regional authorities point to the funding package as a foundational step toward reestablishing air services and cargo capacity. With freight operations slated to precede passenger flights, the project is designed to restore economic activity tied to the airport and surrounding businesses. Supporters say the timetable represents a pragmatic adjustment in the face of evolving aviation economics, demand forecasts, and the complexities of reopening a regional airport after a prolonged period of inactivity.

Beyond the airport project, the vote underscores broader questions about accountability and communication in local government. Reform UK has argued that residents deserve clearer timelines and more transparent reporting on anticipated milestones. Jones and her supporters maintain that the redevelopment plan remains on track and that the regional authorities are making measured progress toward the goal of a reactivated airport by 2028. Critics, meanwhile, warn that missed milestones could undermine public trust and complicate future funding efforts.

In the wake of the vote, both Jones and Reform UK leaders signaled that the motion would have no practical effect on the day-to-day functioning of Doncaster Council. The mayor reaffirmed her commitment to guiding the airport redevelopment and urged residents to focus on the tangible investments being made to reopen DSA. The opposition’s response emphasized that while the motion does not alter governance, it serves as a barometer of public sentiment surrounding transparency and accountability in the project’s delivery.

As the airport project progresses toward its 2027 freight and 2028 passenger milestones, stakeholders say the council will continue to navigate the political landscape while maintaining focus on construction, safety, and regulatory compliance. The interaction between local leadership and regional authorities will remain a critical factor in whether the timetable remains feasible and whether any adjustments become necessary to ensure the successful reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport for both cargo and passenger services.

The episode illustrates how a single policy initiative can become a proxy for broader questions about leadership, trust, and the management of complex, long-term infrastructure projects at the local level. With funding commitments in place and a clearly defined sequence of milestones, the parties involved will likely revisit timelines, funding disbursements, and governance arrangements as DSA moves toward its anticipated 2028 reopening. In the coming months, residents and businesses in Doncaster and the wider South Yorkshire region will be watching closely to see whether the project can sustain momentum amid continuing political scrutiny and the practical challenges of delivering a modern airport in a dynamic economic climate.