In a dramatic twist, Andrea Jenkyns of the Reform party has surged to the forefront in the competition for Lincolnshire’s Mayoral prizewinning position. According to a recent YouGov survey, 40% of decided voters are lending their support to Jenkyns, a substantial lead over her main competitor, the Conservative’s Rob Waltham, who holds 25%. Labour’s Jason Stockwood falls into third place with just 15% of support. The Green, Independent and Liberal Democrat contestants hold less than 10% each.
The poll, which took the opinions of 1,218 residents of Lincolnshire earlier this month, underscores Jenkyns’ widespread appeal to a diverse range of voters, especially the over-50s demographic and those who previously voted Conservative in the 2024 General Election. Those who voted Leave in the Brexit referendum are also strongly inclined towards Jenkyns.
However, given that over a fifth of voters remain undecided and 21% have announced they do not intend to vote, the race’s outcome retains a measure of uncertainty.
It’s worth noting that the Reform party is also experiencing a windfall in Hull, led by candidate Luke Campbell.
The Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral election, due to be held on Thursday, May 1st, stands to form a new devolved authority. This will unite Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire, and North East Lincolnshire Council, with a considerable budget and powers up for grabs. The election results are expected to be released in the early hours of Friday.
A version of this report previously appeared on www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk and has been adapted by The Lincoln Post.
