Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns Cleared to Run in Lincolnshire Mayoral Election
Reform UK’s mayoral candidate for Greater Lincolnshire, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, has been cleared to run in the election on Thursday, 1 May, after a last-minute decision by the chief executive of North Kesteven Council. The decision was made despite concerns over her residency, which had threatened to derail her candidacy.
According to The Independent, Dame Andrea was facing a challenge to her candidacy due to questions over her address. It was alleged that she did not meet the residency criteria, as she lives between Lincolnshire and Leeds, where she used to be a Tory MP, for family reasons. However, Dame Andrea provided evidence to demonstrate that her primary address is in Lincolnshire, including bank statements, evidence from her landlord, and rent statements.
In a statement to The Independent, Dame Andrea said: "From the start this has been a political hit job aimed at smearing my candidacy. I am proud to live in Lincolnshire and it would be the honour of my life to be mayor of the place I grew up in and live in." She also expressed her confidence that she had met the residency requirements and was eligible to stand as a candidate.
The challenge to Dame Andrea’s candidacy was brought by an independent candidate for mayor, Marianne Overton, who is a councillor on North Kesteven District Council. However, the council ultimately accepted that Dame Andrea’s address was valid, and she was cleared to run in the election.
The mayoral election is being hotly contested between Labour, the Tories, and Reform UK. According to a recent YouGov poll, Dame Andrea is ahead with 40 per cent of the vote, with the Tory candidate Rob Waltham on 25 per cent and Labour’s Jason Stockwood on 15 per cent.
A senior Tory source confirmed to The Independent that the party would put in a legal challenge to petition a re-election and disqualify Dame Andrea. The source said that the party was concerned about the legitimacy of the election and the potential impact on the democratic process.
The situation had threatened to cause chaos in the run-up to the election, with postal votes already returned. If Dame Andrea had been disqualified, it could have led to a delay in the election or even a re-run.
Reform UK has welcomed the decision, with a spokesperson saying that the accusations made against Dame Andrea were "vexatious and politically motivated". The spokesperson claimed that the challenge was an attempt to smear Dame Andrea’s candidacy just days before the election.
The Electoral Commission website states that mayoral candidates must meet one of four residential qualifications, which include living or working in the local authority area where they wish to stand, or being registered there as an elector.
As reported by The Independent, Dame Andrea’s candidacy has been a significant development in the election, with many voters in Lincolnshire expressing support for Reform UK. The party is hoping to make gains in the election and establish itself as a credible alternative to the main parties.
In a statement, a spokesperson for North Kesteven District Council said that the council had made a thorough assessment of Dame Andrea’s candidacy and had concluded that she met the necessary residency requirements.
The election on Thursday, 1 May, will be closely watched, with the outcome potentially having significant implications for the local community. As The Independent has reported, the election is being contested by several candidates, including Dame Andrea, Rob Waltham, and Jason Stockwood.
With the election just days away, voters in Lincolnshire are preparing to cast their ballots. The outcome will be an important test for Reform UK and its candidate, Dame Andrea Jenkyns.
Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns is the party’s candidate for mayor of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority, as The Independent has previously reported.
