Doncaster Reform UK confirm new deputy leader in top team overhaul
Cllr Russ Linley will be second in command to Doncaster's Reform leader Howard Rimmer
Reform UK councillors in Doncaster have confirmed the leadership team that will support Howard Rimmer at the head of the local party, including a new deputy leader.
Councillor Howard Rimmer became group leader at the party’s annual general meeting on May 18, 2026, defeating incumbent leader, Cllr Craig Ward, in a head-to-head vote – both men represent Roman Ridge ward.
In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) after winning the group leadership, Cllr Rimmer was tight-lipped about his reasons for challenging Cllr Ward, saying: “It was time things happened quicker.”
The LDRS can now report that, following a group meeting on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Cllr Russ Linley has been chosen as Cllr Rimmer’s deputy.
Cllr Linley represents Hexthorpe and Balby North, a ward also represented by Labour councillor, Glyn Jones, who is a member of Mayor Ros Jones’ cabinet and the deputy mayor of Doncaster.
He said: “I am honoured to have been appointed Deputy and grateful for the support of my colleagues.
“Reform UK in Doncaster has a strong and dedicated team of councillors, and I look forward to building on the progress we have made over the past year.
“Our focus remains simple: doing our very best for the people of Doncaster.”
Also at the meeting, Reform UK councillors confirmed councillors David Carroll and Chris Kidger, both of Bessacarr ward, and Dan Dawson, Hatfield Ward, had been appointed party whips.
Cllr Rachel Reed, Conisbrough ward, was chosen to continue as the group’s secretary and press officer.
It represents a near complete overhaul of the leadership team which operated for the four months after Cllr Ward was named leader in January 2026.
Cllr Rimmer said in a statement: “A new and enthusiastic team is already moving forward with a clear focus on delivering positive outcomes for Doncaster, while strengthening the Reform UK group and its ability to represent local residents.”
Cllr Jason Charity, Conisbrough ward, moves to the backbenches, as he was selected to continue as deputy leader, though the LDRS understands Cllr Charity had chosen to step away from leadership.
Ward and Charity oversaw a difficult few months for the Reform UK group.
Their tenure started strong, capitalising on the January 2026 leak of the lease agreed between Doncaster Council and the Peel Group, the landowners for Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which the council is looking to reopen.
Reform UK then successfully forced the Labour Mayor Jones to reduce her planned council tax hike for 2026/27 from the maximum 4.99 per cent, to just two per cent, during a council meeting in February 2026.
However, a difficult interview with the LDRS immediately after that meeting saw Cllr Ward struggle to answer questions about the budget amendment his party had made, which he was the proposer for.
Ward then didn’t appear in another full council meeting until May 11, 2026, for an extraordinary general meeting called by his party, which saw a critical vote on funding for Doncaster Sheffield Airport take place.
In Ward’s absence, Cllr Charity was often left to speak on his party’s behalf and a collapse in relationships between the Reform UK leadership and executive officers was thrust into the public eye.
Deteriorating trust between opposition parties and officers has seen the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) place the council under “active monitoring”.