Triumph for Reform UK candidate Dame Andrea as she sweeps to victory in mayoral election

                                                   

Success! A winning smile from Dame Andrea at today's declaration  

REFORM UK candidate Dame Andrea Jenkins is the first mayor of the newly-created Greater Lincolnshire combined county authority.

She swept to an easy victory in yesterday’s county-wide poll, the result of which was announced in Grimsby Town Hall at breakfast time today.

The count was as follows

Sally Horscroft (Green): 15,040

Andrea Jenkins (Reform UK): 104,133

Marianne Overton (Lincolnshire Independents): 19,911

Jason Stockwood (Lab): 30,384

Rob Waltham Conservative): 64,585

Trevor Young (Liberal-Democrats): 13, 728

The declaration did not come until 6.30am - more than eight hours after the polling booths closed.

The figures are an amalgamation of the votes cast in North East Lincolnshire and eight other authorities - namely Boston, City of Lincoln, East Lindsey, North Kesteven, North Lincolnshire, South Holland, South Kesteven and West Lindsey

Part of the delay was caused by the need for a recount in North Lincolnshire, but the last authority  to declare was East Lindsey District Council.

The votes cast solely in North East Lincolnshire were as follows

Sally Horscroft (Green): 1,225

Andrea Jenkins (Reform UK): 12,523

Marianne Overton (Lincolnshire Independents): 980

Jason Stockwood (Lab): 6,419

Rob Waltham Conservative): 6,239

Trevor Young (Liberal-Democrats): 1,022

There is no doubt Dame Andrea, a former Conservative minister before she switched political allegiance, will be a flamboyant and feisty mayor.

From the outset of the evening, she caused a stir, wearing a sparkling blue jumpsuit and accompanied by her “best friend”, Gloria, who was also theatrically attired.

With the duo were Dame Andrea’s older sister and agent, Debbie Landymore, who is on the mend from a health condition which, 18 months ago, temporarily left her in a coma with the prospect of never being able to walk again.

Following the declaration, the new mayor sparked immediate controversy when she hit out at the “smears” she said had been aimed at her - particularly by her Conservative opponents.

There were more sparks during subsequent interchanges  with TV and radio representatives, when the mayor cut short one interview, accusing the reporter of being “divisive” in her questioning.

It is understood that Dame Andrea and her friend and agent later retired to a local hotel rather than driving back to Bassingham where they had been staying during much of the campaign.

Happy ladies! Dame Andrea and her friend, Gloria

                                                  

The new mayor cut short her interview with this radio reporter

                                     

Reform UK MP for Boston & Skegness Richard Tice was present in support of Dame Andrea 

Smiling in defeat - unsuccessful candidates Marianne Overton, Rob Waltham, Sally Horscroft and Jason Stockwood 

Grimsby and Cleethorpes MP Melanie Onn and Labour colleagues look less than enchanted by the result