Dame Andrea Jenkyns stormed out of a Sky News interview after being elected Greater Lincolnshire Mayor, accusing the broadcaster of "divisive" questioning.
The former Conservative MP abruptly ended the interview as the broadcaster pushed her on comments made during her acceptance speech.
Reflecting on her achievement as Reform's first-ever Mayor, the 50-year-old made pointed remarks about a rival candidate who had accused Jenkyns of being "parachuted in" to the area.
Jenkyns said in her speech at the election count that there was "irony" in one of her rival candidates who had a "South African accent" making the accusation.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns abruptly quit the interview after shutting down their 'divisive' questioning
Sky News
She added: "They undemocratically tried to remove me from the ballot, but I will say no more on this and I wish them all well."
When challenged by Sky News about why she had mentioned her opponent's accent, Jenkyns responded: "Because the irony of saying someone's being parachuted in who's not even from the country."
The interviewer then asked if she believed someone with a foreign accent couldn't be from Lincolnshire.
At this point, Jenkyns cut the interview short, visibly infuriated by the reporter's line of questioning.
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Jenkyns claimed the reporter did not understand the 'irony' of her remarks
Sky News
"I think actually, I'm not even going to answer any more of your questions," she said.
"I think that your questioning is quite divisive. You're looking into things when it was a little play with words, it was a little joke because of the irony. Do you not understand irony?"
The question came after Sky News had also appeared to cast doubt on Jenkyns' claim of a "dirty campaign".
Defending her remarks, she told the broadcaster: "If the police were called on you for something unfounded... wouldn't you want to speak out about it?"
Jenkyns walked away from Sky's interview after declaring she is 'not going to answer' the broadcaster's questions
Sky News
Speaking to GB News this morning, Jenkyns described the election as a "soul-destroying campaign", saying she had "never experienced such negativity".
She said: "I've fought four general elections, three local elections, and it's been horrible. It's been personal.
"The Conservatives have called the police on me, we've had them saying I'm sleeping with political allies.
"We've had the independent candidate, her husband had complained to the council and there was a hearing and our barrister had to get involved. It's been completely dirty."
