Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the Reform UK candidate targeting to accomplish the first mayoral post of Greater Lincolnshire, has successfully achieved eligibility to partake in the expected election after a challenge concerning her residency status for electoral roll purposes. The electoral registration officer from North Kesteven District Council attested that Dame Andrea’s principal residence is indeed Lincolnshire, thus satisfying one of the essential candidacy criteria.
Upon the conclusion of the eligibility hearing, Dame Andrea labelled the challenge as a politically motivated act to undermine her campaign, stating, “From the inception, this has been a political ploy focused on tarnishing my candidacy. Living in Lincolnshire fills me with pride and to become the mayor of the place I was born and brought up in would be the greatest honour of my life”.
The Electoral Commission regulations necessitate candidates to fulfil specific residency or property ownership conditions for eligibility. Dame Andrea, who was recently included in the North Kesteven electoral roll at her Bassingham address, also has a residence in Yorkshire where her son attends school. The registration officer confirmed that she meets the residency criteria, proclaiming, “I don’t assert any judgement that the individual was unentitled to register in respect of the address or has ceased being a resident at the address”.
According to a recent YouGov poll, Dame Andrea is presently leading the mayoral race. Having moved to Reform UK last year, she has deep connections to the region, having relocated to Lincolnshire at the age of seven, and later enrolling in Grimsby College and the University of Lincoln. Her political background includes being a member of the Lincolnshire County Council and serving as the Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood.
This narrative is based on original reporting from www.bbc.com, as adapted by The Lincoln Post.
