Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Reform UK Candidate for Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, is making waves in the political world with her prominent stance as a Brexiter and her strong lead in the upcoming mayoral contest. According to pollsters at YouGov, Jenkyns has a 15-point lead over her rivals, with a commanding 40% of the vote share. This puts her comfortably ahead of Conservative candidate Rob Waltham at 25% and Labour’s Jason Stockwood at 15%. With such a strong position, it’s no surprise that Jenkyns is expected to secure the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral contest.
Jenkyns, who was recently made a Dame in Boris Johnson’s resignation honours, lost her Tory seat in the July 2024 election to Labour. However, it seems she could be on the cusp of returning to mainstream politics with the support of Nigel Farage and her new party, Reform UK. But what makes Jenkyns such a well-known name within political circles? Let’s take a look at some of her most viral moments.
When she did a complete U-turn over joining Reform UK
In September, Jenkyns posted a video on X from the Reform UK party conference, stating that she would not be defecting. She clarified, “I’m a former Tory MP, I’m not defecting. I’m on a press pass and I’m keen to find out what it’s all about. Is this the true home of conservatism and why have we lost so many members to the Reform party.” However, just two months later, in November, Jenkyns announced she was officially joining Reform UK. She explained that she had been “tempted” to join before the general election, but her loyalty to the Conservative party held her back. However, she felt that the Tories had become “tired,” and it was time for her to make a change.
When she had an awkward clash with her own team member on Have I Got News For You
Jenkyns caused a stir when she appeared on Ian Hislop’s team on Have I Got News For You in October last year. She accused the BBC of selecting a biased audience, triggering a spat with her team mate. When the audience booed her statement that Boris Johnson was “one of our better prime ministers,” she retorted, “I see you’ve selected the audience to people who don’t like Boris or Conservatives.” Hislop hit back, “You can’t just say, ‘you’ve selected the audience.’ You’ve got no evidence for that! No proof, it’s just bollocks. This isn’t GB News!” Despite the tense moment, Jenkyns and her team mate, comedian Miles Jupp, went on to have a successful appearance on the show.
When she denied the Tories had any responsibility for the far-right riots
Last August, BBC Newsnight host Katie Razzall pointed out the Tories’ anti-immigration policies as a cause for the far-right riots, which broke out less than a month after the Tories left government. She said to Jenkyns, “People are tracing a direct line from your government’s rhetoric to the violence we’re seeing.” However, the ex-MP replied, “I think people have got short memories.” When Razzell reminded her that she herself had said “illegal immigration represents an existential threat,” and that she had backed former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman’s comments about an “invasion” of Channel migrants, Jenkyns insisted, “I’ve got no problem with legal migration.”
When she suggested banning primary school sex education
In a parliamentary session in March 2024, Jenkyns stated, “As the mother of a primary-age schoolchild, I do not want him or other children, straight or gay, to learn about sex full stop. I also do not want to see young children in primary school to be taught about changing gender.” She added that she had “no problem with whatever people want to do when they are older,” but that we need to “protect the innocence of children and their childhood.” Her comments sparked a debate, with some praising her for standing up for traditional values, while others criticized her for being out of touch with modern society.
When she was accused of trying to interfere with a Commons investigation into Boris Johnson
Jenkyns, along with nine other Tory MPs,
