We seek clarification over claims made by Reform mayoral candidate Andrea Jenkyns in promotional video in Spalding

British sign language translators were among the £200,000 interpreter costs which were branded a ‘dire waste of money’ by a mayoral candidate in a promotional video.

Reform UK’s Dame Andrea Jenkyns claimed that Lincolnshire County Council has spent £200,000 on interpreters and £50,000 on ‘a Green Ambassador’ during a campaign video filmed close to the Spalding Western Relief Road with Coun Rob Gibson

This website has approached the county council for clarification on the claims on Dame Jenkyns’ Facebook page. We do not hold any political affiliations but feel that it is important to clarify information claimed by candidates vying to be the first Greater Lincolnshire Mayor.

We have been told:

- A large proportion of the interpreter funding was spent on meeting the county’s legal requirements associated with child protection duties

- While the funding covered mainly foreign language transition, it was also used to fund British Sign Language interpreters. The council had spent £225,000 in the last financial year on interpretation.

- The one-off green ambassador scheme was run between October 2022 and March 2023 to help county tourist businesses take advantage of eco-tourism by training up a minimum of 10 to 20 people. The scheme was also hoped to aid career progression and encourage a minimum of 10 to 20 tourist businesses to get involved.

Dame Jenkyns, who was discussing the congestion problems in Spalding with Coun Gibson, said in the video: "Look at the wastage of the Conservative led county council. They spend £200,000 on foreign interpreters and £50,000 a year on a green ambassador. This dire waste of money.”

A Reform UK spokesman said: "Reform UK councillors elected in May will audit Lincolnshire County Council and cut the wastage.

"This means putting an end to spending taxpayer cash on translation costs for migrants and those who do not bother to learn English, and funnelling it towards things such as improving local services and support for children and BSL users.

"Owing more than £460 million in debt, it's no secret that Lincolnshire County Council have been wasting taxpayer money and mismanaging their finances.

"Andrea is the only mayoral candidate that has identified this and wants taxpayer funds to be spent on projects that benefit local people and drive investment, such as the Spalding Western Relief Road."

The northern section of the road was completed last year but the project has been mothballed.

Cash earmarked for the southern end was pulled in 2023 due to rising costs of other projects.

The cost of the entire project was estimated to cost £110 million.

If elected as the Greater Lincolnshire Mayor in May, Dame Jenkyns - a former Conservative MP until last year’s election - would control a £24 million annual investment fund as well as holding powers over economic development, skills, transport, and planning.

Former South Holland Independents leaders Coun Gibson defected to Reform earlier this year with four of his colleagues.

If you feel that a claim made by a mayoral candidate deserves greater clarification email victoria.fear@iliffepublishing.co.uk