A formal challenge to Reform UK’s mayoral candidate in Lincolnshire has been dismissed, clearing the way for Dame Andrea Jenkyns to stand in the upcoming election for Greater Lincolnshire’s first directly elected mayor.
Dame Andrea, a former Conservative minister who now represents Reform UK, is seeking to lead the newly formed combined authority, which will hold elections on May 1 as part of a significant package of devolved powers for the region. The result of the vote will see Lincolnshire join other regions with a directly elected mayor overseeing local transport, economic development, housing, and skills.
However, her candidacy was called into question when an objection was lodged, arguing that she was ineligible to stand due to concerns about her residency. The challenge centred on whether Dame Andrea truly resided in Lincolnshire, a legal requirement for mayoral candidates in the area.
According to electoral rules, candidates must be registered to vote and resident in the region where they are standing. Dame Andrea, who moved to an address in Lincolnshire in February 2025, is registered to vote in the county. She also maintains a second home in Yorkshire, where her son attends school, leading the challenger to claim that she did not primarily reside in Lincolnshire.
The matter was reviewed by North Kesteven District Council’s electoral registration officer, who ultimately rejected the challenge. In their formal determination, the officer found no grounds to disqualify Dame Andrea from the electoral register at her Lincolnshire address, noting that she uses the property as her main residence.
“I do not make any determination that the subject was not entitled to be registered in respect of the address or has ceased to be resident at the address,” the officer wrote in the official conclusion, a copy of which was seen by the PA news agency. “Accordingly, she is entitled to remain on the electoral register at that address.”
The officer further clarified that concerns about a potential future move, should Dame Andrea lose the election, were irrelevant to the matter at hand. “Many people move for work despite their work being subject to a probationary period,” they noted, adding that uncertainty regarding employment is not uncommon and does not negate one’s right to be registered.
Speaking after the decision, Dame Andrea described the objection as politically motivated. “From the start this has been a political hit job aimed at smearing my candidacy,” she said.
More Read
She went on to reaffirm her ties to the county: “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.”
Her candidacy has drawn national attention, not only for her party switch from the Conservatives to Reform UK but also due to her profile as a prominent supporter of Brexit and of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The new mayoral role in Lincolnshire represents a significant shift in local governance, with powers transferred from Westminster to the region under the terms of a devolution deal agreed last year. The elected mayor will chair the new Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority, working with local council leaders to deliver services and attract investment.
With the challenge now behind her, Dame Andrea’s campaign will move forward as she seeks to make her mark as the Reform UK candidate in what is expected to be a hotly contested race. The outcome could offer an early indicator of Reform UK’s growing influence as it seeks to broaden its base ahead of the next general election.
