Reform’s Andrea Jenkyns ‘very relieved’ as mayoralty legal challenge dropped

The appeal against her candidacy was dropped two weeks ago, with Jenkyns revealing she never received notification of the court date. "I didn't even get a letter for the court date," she said during the television interview.

Jenkyns suggested financial considerations may have influenced the decision to withdraw the challenge. "The second stage was actually taking the council to court to try and overturn the decision and had we won and the council won, they would have had to pay the costs for us and the council, so I wonder if that played a role in their decision," she explained.

The challenge originated from independent candidate Marianne Overton, whose husband initiated legal proceedings questioning whether Jenkyns was properly registered on the local electoral roll. Jenkyns secured victory in May's mayoral election with a commanding lead of nearly 40,000 votes.

The dispute centred on Jenkyns' residential status, with questions raised about her eligibility whilst maintaining addresses in both Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. "They were saying I should not have said that because I was renting a place in Lincolnshire, I should not be elected," Jenkyns told GB News.

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Overton withdrew the appeal citing more pressing priorities to address.

The case was scheduled for hearing at Lincoln High Court on Monday, but Overton withdrew her appeal before proceedings began.

During the election campaign, North Kesteven District Council had conducted a hearing which concluded that Jenkyns satisfied all eligibility requirements.

Despite this ruling, Overton's office lodged an appeal against the council's decision. The legal challenge would have required taking the council to court rather than Jenkyns directly.

"It was actually the council they would have had to have taken to court," Jenkyns clarified.

Following the withdrawal, Jenkyns said she received supportive messages. "I sent some text messages and got some supportive messages back. It's great news," she told GB News.

Jenkyns currently resides in the Yorkshire constituency she previously represented as an MP but is relocating to Lincolnshire, where she originally lived.

She began renting a property in North Kesteven last year, which enabled her registration on the electoral roll and established her eligibility for the mayoral position.

During her GB News appearance, Jenkyns described her living arrangements: "I had a student lifestyle where I was living in two places and the council deemed that acceptable."

She confirmed her commitment to the move, stating: "As I've said publicly, I was living in two places and I said when I was elected, the house would be up for sale."