The BBC has been slammed as “sexist and misogynistic” over comments made about Dame Andrea Jenkyns after she was elected as Reform UK’s first-ever Mayor.
The ex-Conservative Minister, who defected to Reform UK last year, received widespread support in Lincolnshire, a former true-blue Tory heartland.
The 50-year-old scooped up 104,133 votes, putting her around 40,000 ballots ahead of Tory Rob Waltham, and around 60,000 ahead of Labour’s Jason Stockwood.
Reporting on her win, the BBC drew criticism for its “belittling” headline, which referred to Jenkyns’ past job in Greggs and as a contender in a beauty contest.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns is the maiden Mayor of Greater LincolnshirePA“Reform UK's Andrea Jenkyns is the new mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, marking a return to politics for the former Greggs worker and Miss UK finalist,” the headline reads.
GB News' Dawn Neesom responded to the article, saying: “Isn’t this just a wee bit sexist?”
One user on X said: “It’s the most belittling headline I’ve read for a long time,” whilst another added “Better that than having zero life experience and becoming a Westminster liberal elite who lives entirely in a goddam bubble”.
“What was the intent behind highlighting her past as a Greggs worker and Miss UK finalist, rather than her extensive political experience?” another user questioned the broadcaster.
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Reporting on her win, the BBC drew criticism for its 'belittling' headline
BBC/X
The BBC has since taken the post down and 'acknowledged that the tone was wrong'
PA“To be fair, it's a lot healthier than saying she used to be a Tory”, one user joked.
Baroness Foster gave her congratulations to the new Lincolnshire Mayor, adding: “I never worked in Greggs, but I was also a Miss UK finalist a very long time ago.”
She replied: “Thank you, yes was a Saturday kid at Greggs when I was 16.”
The BBC's post has since been deleted, having been live for 8 hours on X.
In her winning speech, the newly elected mayor hit out at her opponents and vowed to put an end to “soft touch Britain”.
“The fightback to save the heart and soul of our great country has now begun.
The 50-year-old scooped up 104,133 votes
PA“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.”
Jenkyns also took aim at Independent candidate Marianne Overton and claimed they had “made complaints” about her.
She further claimed that despite her win of over 100,000 votes, she has “never experienced such negativity”.
Speaking to GB News, Jenkyns said: “As I said in my speech, I thought it was important to address this because it's been soul-destroying, this campaign.
“I've fought four general elections, three local elections, and it's been horrible. It's been personal.”
The BBC told GB News: “We acknowledge the tone of the post was wrong and it has been taken down.”
