Doncaster Reform councillor quits party to sit independent

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 20:02 · Archive

William Shaw, who was elected to Doncaster Council for Reform in May, has quit the party to become an independent.

William Shaw, elected to represent Conisbrough ward on City of Doncaster Council for Reform in May, has quit the party to sit as an independent. He remains a councillor and has not resigned from that position.

Shaw wrote to the council's Reform leader Howard Rimmer saying that through his councillor work, he now holds positions that are 'politically neutral'. Earlier this year, Shaw was appointed as Doncaster Council's farming and nature recovery champion by Mayor Ros Jones. As a farmer himself, he has also taken a seat on the Pride in Place board for Conisbrough North, which will determine how a £20m investment in the community will be spent over the next decade.

Rimmer said the party was 'extremely disappointed' by Shaw's decision. He argued that being a party member 'does not prevent councillors from carrying out their responsibilities impartially or working constructively'. The Conisbrough ward has two other councillors, Rachel Reed and Jason Charity, both Reform UK members.

How it is being reported

• Reform councillor quits party to sit as independentWilliam Shaw has represented Conisbrough on Doncaster Council for Reform since May this year.BBC South Yorkshire · 14 Oct, 19:37
• Reform UK councillor in Doncaster quits party to sit as independent“Being independent gives a better feeling of being politically neutral now and going forward.”Doncaster Free Press · 14 Oct, 10:19

In this story: William Shaw · Reform UK · Doncaster Council · Howard Rimmer · Conisbrough

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