Andrea Jenkyns Joins Reform UK, Runs for Mayor

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, a former Tory minister, has joined Reform UK and will run as the party's candidate for the new mayoral position of Greater Lincolnshire in the upcoming May 2025 elections. This announcement was made by party leader Nigel Farage at a press conference celebrating Reform UK reaching 100,000 members. Jenkyns, who previously served as the MP for Morley and Outwood from 2015 until losing her seat in the 2024 general election, expressed her belief that the Conservative Party has 'lost its way.' She described her decision to join Reform as a response to a 'sinking ship' and positioned the party as a necessary alternative to the established political system. Her past controversies include her association with the hard-right Reclaim Party and controversial pledges regarding human rights legislation. Jenkyns' defection marks a significant shift as she seeks to revitalize her political career under Farage's banner.