Jenkyns marks 100 days as Lincolnshire mayor

Dame Andrea Jenkyns at her swearing-in ceremony on 6 May

There may not be cake, flowers and bubbly, but this week marks a notable anniversary.

It's 100 days since Reform UK made a significant breakthrough at the ballot box, when they snatched control of a number of local authorities – including Lincolnshire County Council from the Conservatives.

One of the headline victories for the party led by Nigel Farage was the election of Dame Andrea Jenkyns as the first ever Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.

The former Conservative MP was always the always the firm favourite to secure the new role, given Reform's rise in the opinion polls in the run-up to the local elections on 1 May.

So what has Dame Andrea achieved so far?

In a fast-moving video on social media, the mayor said she had been "banging the drum for Lincolnshire" and "planting the seeds of growth" during her initial three months in the role.

But with a party that could be described as Marmite – many love them, others hate them – there will always be sceptical voices watching their every move.

Critics of Reform UK claim their opposition to net zero policies could jeopardise future investment in renewable energy and put thousands of jobs at risk from the Humber to The Wash.

As a recent press conference in Lincolnshire, senior party figures said they had "declared war" on green energy projects.

Dame Andrea has been a vocal critic of solar farms and even pledged her support for fracking.

The mayor recently compared the fight against green energy to the battle faced by Bomber Command, which flew from Lincolnshire during World War Two.

Labour MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes Melanie Onn said: "After 100 days I'm still no clearer about what positive aspects Reform mayors are going to bring to our area.

"I really worry that turning their backs on any form of industry means that we are not going to get the economic benefits that devolution should bring."

Dame Andrea has insisted she will not be deterred by her critics and will push ahead with a number of projects that will "turbo charge" the economy of Greater Lincolnshire.

The mayor is promoting a Great Exhibition for Lincolnshire in October, which she says will promote investment and trade across "our amazing county".

Also scheduled for the autumn is a plan to create a Transport for Lincolnshire board, which will push for more investment into the county's infrastructure, particularly on rural bus services.

The mayor has also pledged that in the next 12 months, work will start on building a Veteran's Village in Lincolnshire, to accommodate those who have served in the armed forces.

Dame Andrea will serve a four year term as head of a combined authority, with a budget of £24m a year.

Whether you like her - or not – Dame Andrea Jenkyns continues to be seen by many as an important flag bearer in Reform UK's transition from a party of protest to a party of power.

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