North Kesteven District Council confirms that an appeal has been lodged over Greater Lincolnshire Mayor Andrea Jenkyns’ eligibility to have stood for the role on May 1

An appeal has been lodged over Dame Andrea Jenkyns’ eligibility to stand in the first-ever mayoral election for Greater Lincolnshire, a council has confirmed.

North Kesteven District Council said it had received an appeal against a decision that was made by its Electoral Registration Officer — following a hearing on Friday, April 25 — that determined that the Reform UK candidate met the requirement of being on the electoral roll in the county, which is one of the criteria for standing as a candidate.

Reform UK had described the complaint as “vexatious” and “politically motivated”.

Ms Jenkyns was officially elected as mayor less than a week later, securing 104,133 votes and winning in every area of the county except North Lincolnshire - but opponents are determined not to let the matter drop.

“North Kesteven District Council confirms that an appeal to a decision made by the Electoral Registration Officer following a review of an entry on the electoral register has been received," a spokesperson said.

"This will be passed to the County Court in line with the statutory process.”

Lincolnshire County Council recently became Reform UK-controlled, with the party winning 44 out of 70 seats. Along the east coast, Reform UK secured every seat in East Lindsey and Boston, and all but one in South Holland.

When questioned about the reports by the Local Democracy Reporting Service at a ceremony at Lincoln Cathedral on Tuesday, May 6, where she was officially sworn in as mayor, Dame Andrea described her opponents who submitted the complaint as “sore losers”.

“It’s very sad that they don’t believe in democracy,” she added.

Guidance from the Electoral Commission states that to be eligible to stand, candidates must either live or work in the area, own or rent land or property there, or be on the electoral roll.

Dame Andrea was added to the North Kesteven electoral roll at an address in Bassingham, near Lincoln, in April. She splits her time between there and a home in Yorkshire, where her son attends school. The original challenge claimed she did not primarily reside in Lincolnshire.

She previously told the press she lived in Yorkshire with her son but intended to move to Lincolnshire full-time if she was elected.