Dame Andrea Jenkyns has become Reform UK’s first-ever elected mayor while channelling her inner Abba-style, shimmering across the stage in a blue sequined trouser suit.
The ex-Conservative minister, who turned Reform last year, promised a ‘new dawn in British politics’, vowing to the people of Greater Lincolnshire that Reform would ‘reset Britain to its glorious past’ as she secured her spot as mayor.
The former Greggs worker and Miss UK finalist, 50, now holds the power over an annual budget of £24million after zooming ahead of her Tory rival Rob Whiltham by around 40,000 votes – bagging the support of 104,133.
Immigration and efficiencies in local government, including a British DOGE for each council they control to slash town hall waste, were at the heart of Reform’s campaign.
Elsewhere in North Tyneside, the party narrowly missed out on having a mayor, with Labour leading by a small marginal win of 444 amid the political earthquake as the local election results roll in.
In her winning speech, the newly elected mayor hit out at her opponents, vowed to put an end to ‘soft touch Britain’ while channelling the iconic Swedish quartet, in a striking 70s-esque outift.
‘The fightback to save the heart and soul of our great country has now begun,’ she said,’ she said: ‘Now that Reform is in a place of power, we can help start rebuilding Britain. Inch by inch, Reform will reset Britain to its glorious past.
‘We will tackle illegal migration. We’ve been working on policies.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns becomes Reform UK’s first-ever elected mayo while channelling her inner Abba-style.
The ex-Conservative minister, who turned Reform last year, shimmered across the stage in a blue sequined trouser suit, reminiscent of a 70s disco scene
Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog ‘Rock on with 45’ in December 1974
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‘I say no to putting people in hotels. Tents are good enough for France, they should be good enough for here in Britain.’
But those sitting at home, eagerly watching the results roll in were more taken by the Dame’s striking outfit comparing her to ABBA, with one quipping: ‘Fair play to Andrea Jenkyns. Winning the Mayoral election whilst being at ABBA Voyage.’
And the politician originally from West Yorkshire, is no stranger to the band’s much-loved tunes, with the trained soprano belting out their Mamma Mia track live on Radio 5 in 2016.
She was challenged by the presenter after she had proposed a duet with Ed Balls, who she beat in May 2015, abruptly ending his ten-year career as an MP after hundreds of Labour voters witched allegiance in Morley and Outwood.
Her win comes only days after she declared herself ‘a smear campaign survivor’, after a complaint lodged alleging she wasn’t entitled to stand in the running for mayor was dismissed.
She previously described the complaint to Lincolnshire Live, as ‘vexatious’ and ‘politically motivated’, as she affirmed her strong ties to the area, pointing out she had attended college and university in the area as well as having served as a councillor.
‘I was born in Beverley and moved here when I was seven years old. I have lived in New Holland, East Halton and Healing, gone to Grimsby college and University of Lincoln, and been a councillor for Boston,’ she said.
‘I moved away in 2015 when I won the seat off Ed Balls. I have got a place I rent, but I have a son with special needs, and any parent wouldn’t pull their child out of school until they know if they’ve won.’
Some online pointed out the new mayor’s 70s-esque disco style as she took to the stage for her victory speech
The ex Tory politican is no stranger to an Abba tune, having previously showed off her classically trained vocal chords to belt Mamma Mia in 2016 on BBC 5 Radio
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She vowed to move to Greater Lincolnshire ‘full time’ if she won the mayoral seat, she bagged this morning.
Following her victory today, she told the crowd: ‘I have fought many elections, four general elections, my third local election, but I’m going to be brief with this don’t worry, I’ve never experienced such negativity and soul-destroying campaigns against me like this on
‘It was soul-destroying. The dirty tricks in the US politics I now believe is being imported into Britain.’
Last year, the former beauty queen was plagued by internet trolls who questioned why she lived in separate house to her Conservative MP Jack Lopresti. By this time the pair had been divorced for two years.
Their relationship first emerged after Lucy Lopresti – Mr Lopresti’s first wife – caught the pair cheating after pictures came to light of him kidding former beauty queen, Ms Jenkins, in Doncaster in 2015.
Photographs showed the happy couple enjoying a romantic moment on a bench as Ms Jenkyns put her hand on her – at the time – boyfriend’s leg while waiting for a train.
The pair were later confronted and claimed to be ‘just good friends’ before the Tory party confirmed they are a couple, claiming the relationship only started in a few weeks prior.
The pair share a son, who has an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with the Dame more recently going against her party’s leader, Nigel Farage, and his view on children with special educational needs.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns shines in blue with her mayoral win in Greater Lincolnshire at the epicentre of a political earthquake in today’s local election
The former Greggs worker and Miss UK finalist now holds the power over an annual budget of £24million after zooming ahead of her Tory rival Rob Whiltham
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Farage said: ‘So many of these diagnoses, for SEND before 18, for disability register after 18 – so many of these have been conducted on Zoom, with the family GP.
‘And I think we are massively – I’m not being heartless, I’m being frank – I think we are massively over diagnosing those with mental illness problems and those with other general behavioural disabilities.’
In response to his statement, she said they were ‘not always going to agree on everything’, addding: ‘In no party do you ever agree with everything. I didn’t with the Conservatives did I – I was the worst critic.’
The former Greggs worker is no stranger to big political wins either, having previously beat out Ed Balls in 2015, bringing the political goliath’s decade long career to an abrupt end.
Labour’s fallen ‘big beast’ stood hands clasped across his belly and tried to put a brave face on a 422-vote defeat at the time.
Former beauty queen Andrea Jenkyns had persuaded hundreds of Labour voters to switch allegiance and make her the new MP for Morley and Outwood in West Yorkshire.
At the count, cutting striking figure in her red skirt and jacket, she eloquently shared how the death of her father from the hospital superbug MRSA had inspired her to seek a career in politics.
Her colourful back story that includes coming from humble roots in East Yorkshire to blossom into a Miss United Kingdom finalist – a subject she coyly refused to discuss yesterday.
Miss Jenkyns later progressed from catwalk to stage, working as a semi-professional soprano singer and songwriter.
Her personal website boasts that her musical career led to her meeting the prime minister of Pakistan, performing in front of thousands in Islamabad and recording a hit music video in Asia for her song The Beach.
‘I am a soprano singer but I sing everything from Queen to Abba to Nessun Dorma,’ she said.
But far from being a starry-eyed wannabe, Miss Jenkyns is keen to point out how she has worked her way up from Saturday girl to spend 15 years as a retail manager.
Her other past jobs have included working as a secondary school music teacher and as an executive with a management training company.
Her move into politics came out of tragedy when her father Clifford Jenkyns – a former lorry driver who started his own transport firm – died aged 73 after contracting the MRSA bug at Pinderfields Hospital in West Yorkshire, where he had been admitted for an operation.
His death in November 2011 led to his daughter becoming involved in an MRSA charity and campaigning for improved hygiene standards to prevent future tragedies.
‘I was already a county councillor but when dad died it inspired me to go for the top level of politics,’ Miss Jenkyns said.
