Mayor 'forms new political party'

The Mayor of Doncaster has left the Labour Party and has begun the process of starting his own political group, according to a Labour spokesman.

Martin Winter, 46, is thought to have registered a new party - The Labour Group - with two other councillors.

A Labour spokesman said the move was a breach of party rules and the three members would have 14 days to re-register with the Labour Party.

The council is one of 12 nationally to be run by an elected mayor.

The Labour party spokesman said: "It has come to our attention that Martin Winter and two other Labour councillors have registered as members of a separate political group.

"This is therefore a clear breach of party rules. The Labour Party have today given all three members involved 14 days to re-register as a member of the recognised Labour Group.

"If they fail to do so, they are automatically considered to have excluded themselves from party membership."

A council spokesman said the mayor would make his position clear at a meeting of the council's Labour group on Wednesday.

'Council in disarray'

Chair of Doncaster Labour group, Councillor Mick Jameson, said: "We were quite surprised. There was no indication that this was going to happen at this particular time.

"Of course we were astounded when informed that Mayor Winter and two other members of the Labour Party had actually signed a separate form to the normal one that you are required to sign under our party rule."

Councillor Garth Oxby, leader of the Alliance of Independents group said: "Doncaster is now in some disarray. And it's a bit of a debacle.

"Possibly Doncaster is once again open to ridicule. I do not wish to see this and my group do not."

Labour has the largest share on Doncaster Council with 27 seats, while independents have 15, Lib Dems 12 and Conservatives nine.

Mr Winter became the first elected Mayor of Doncaster in 2002 and was re-elected in 2005.

The mayor represents Doncaster Council and the borough on a local, national and international platform and is personally accountable for all strategy and policy decisions made.

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