Andrea Jenkyns, the Tory turncoat running as Reform’s candidate for the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty, is crying foul about a BBC stitch-up – after the broadcaster ran an interview in where it asked her questions and allowed her to answer them.
Former Conservative MP Dame Andrea Jenkyns will stand as the party’s candidate to be mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in May 2025.
Dame Andrea, who lost her seat in the July general election, said she had “fought to the bitter end” but the Conservative Party was now “beyond salvage”.
At the time she was asked how long she had been thinking about leaving the Conservatives, Dame Andrea said she had “always respected” Farage and had felt “politically aligned” with the party.
“I was tempted before the general election, but I am a loyal person to a party.
“I might not be loyal to prime ministers, as we’ve seen in the past, but I’m loyal to parties, and I believed, as I said, in going down with that ship fighting.
“I was elected as a Conservative, and I got knocked out as a Conservative, but I feel, unfortunately, the party has become tired.”
Mayor plans
She wants to fix Lincolnshire’s transport
She said people “shouldn’t need a car to get to work or college.”
“I’ll create Transport for Greater Lincolnshire to sort out our buses, roads and rail. That means investment in key routes like the A15, A52 and A17, and proper integration between buses, trains and cars.”
Dame Andrea wants to prioritise housing for locals
She said families are priced out and forced out which is “not right.”
“I’ll push for Homes4Heroes and more affordable housing, but I’ll make sure local people are first in line, not pushed aside by Whitehall targets.”
She wants to champion jobs for local people
Dame Andrea wants to train local people “so Lincolnshire’s talent stays here.”
“I’ll roll out a Skills for Lincolnshire plan, expand apprenticeships, boost adult education, and get colleges working directly with local employers to deliver real jobs.”
She wants to defend the countryside
She wants to “protect farmland not cover it in solar panels and pylons.”
“I’ll fight planning decisions that damage our countryside. That means saying no to solar farms on prime agricultural land, opposing wasteful pylons, and investing in proper flood defences.”
Dame Andrea wants to drive growth in Lincolnshire
She said “other regions have had billions. It’s our turn.”
She said she will deliver a Business Start-Up and Growth Fund, back an AI and Defence Innovation Cluster, and push for serious inward investment, adding: “Lincolnshire needs high-tech jobs, better infrastructure, and someone willing to bang the drum for our economy at the top level.”
TV interview
She wasn’t happy about it!
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Related: Farage’s ‘rigorous’ vetting process fails as Reform suspends two candidates
