Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns will be allowed to stand as Greater Lincolnshire Mayor candidate on May 1
Reform UK mayoral candidate Andrea Jenkyns says she has been “vindicated” after a complaint about whether she was eligible to stand was dismissed.
It was alleged that she wasn’t entitled to be on the electoral roll in Lincolnshire, and therefore couldn’t stand for mayor.
A private hearing took place today at North Kesteven District Council, the authority where Ms Jenkyns is registered.
She has released a video on social media announcing that the council have ruled in her favour, saying: “I am a smear campaign survivor.”
The mayoral election, where Ms Jenkyns is leading in the polls, will be held less than a week away on Thursday, May 1.
The controversy arose as Ms Jenkyns currently lives in Yorkshire, where she was an MP for the Morley and Outwood constituency until 2024.
She began renting a home in Lincolnshire earlier this year, enabling her to be added to electoral roll.
A spokesperson for North Kesteven District Council said earlier this week: “A formal objection has been made in relation to an individual registration on the North Kesteven Electoral Register and the statutory process is being followed.”
The Reform party has previously said the complaint was “vexatious” and “politically motivated”.
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Ms Jenkyns recently told the Local Democracy Reporting that she had strong links with the county, and would move there if elected.
“I was born in Beverley and moved here when I was seven years old. I have lived in New Holland, East Halton and Healing, gone to Grimsby college and University of Lincoln, and been a councillor for Boston,” she said.
“I moved away in 2015 when I won the seat off Ed Balls.
“I have got a place I rent, but I have a son with special needs, and any parent wouldn’t pull their child out of school until they know if they’ve won. If I win on May 1, I will move here full time.”
The full list of candidates for Greater Lincolnshire Mayor (in alphabetical order) are:
Sally Horscroft (Green)
Andrea Jenkyns (Reform)
Marianne Overton (Independent)
Jason Stockwood (Labour)
Rob Waltham (Conservative)
Trevor Young (Liberal Democrat)
