Andrea Jenkyns – Biography, Career, and Family Life

Dame Andrea Jenkyns DBE is a British politician who became Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in May 2025 after joining Reform UK in November 2024. Before that, she served as the Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood from 2015 to 2024 and held the role of Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills in 2022.

Born in Beverley, Humberside on 16 June 1974, Jenkyns spent 18 years in retail management before entering politics. She was elected to Lincolnshire County Council in 2009 and later won a seat in Parliament in 2015, famously defeating the then-shadow chancellor Ed Balls.

Her political trajectory has been marked by a notable shift from the Conservative establishment to Reform UK, where she now leads the newly created Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in Boris Johnson’s 2023 Resignation Honours.

Who Is Andrea Jenkyns? Background and Political Rise

• First woman and first Reform UK member to hold the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire post.
• Transitioned from the Conservative whip to Reform UK during the 2024 general election cycle.
• Has publicly identified as a “proud mummy” and referenced having a son with a disability, though specifics remain unconfirmed in official biographies.
• A trained operatic soprano known as the “Voice of the Shires” who released an album called Ilyis in 2006.
• Worked at Greggs, as a music tutor, and in retail management before entering Parliament.

What Is Andrea Jenkyns’ Educational and Early Career Background?

Jenkyns retrained in her 30s, earning a Diploma in Economics from the Open University and a BA (Hons) in International Relations and Politics from the University of Lincoln, according to her official website. Her early career included 18 years in retail management, alongside work at Greggs and as a music tutor. She was also a Miss UK finalist and, as FE Week reported, an operatic soprano who released the album Ilyis in 2006 under the name Andrea.

Which Constituency Did Andrea Jenkyns Represent as an MP?

She was elected as the Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood in the 2015 general election, defeating the incumbent Ed Balls. She held the seat until Parliament dissolved on 30 May 2024, serving for nine years. During her tenure, she served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills in 2022 under both Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

Is Andrea Jenkyns Married? Her Partner and Family Life

Jenkyns married Conservative MP Jack Lopresti on 22 December 2017, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2023. Public biographical sources confirm she has one child. A French-language Wikipedia entry lists a son named Clifford George, born on 29 March 2017, but that detail has not been corroborated by other authoritative sources and should be treated with caution.

What Is Known About Andrea Jenkyns’ Children?

The available official records state that she has one child. Search queries frequently reference “Andrea Jenkyns son disability,” but no authoritative UK government or BBC source confirms that her son has a disability. One specialist ADHD advocacy site, ADHD UK, states that she has ADHD and a formal diagnosis, but this claim is not corroborated by the UK government, BBC, or her official biography.

Does Andrea Jenkyns Publicly Discuss Her Personal Life?

She maintains a relatively private stance on family matters. Her public-facing communications, including her website and social media, emphasise her policy work, campaign activities, and mayoral duties. The gap between public search interest and available official information on her personal life remains notable.

Why Did Andrea Jenkyns Leave the Conservatives for Reform UK?

Jenkyns left the Conservative Party and joined Reform UK in November 2024, during the general election cycle that saw her step down as an MP. She was subsequently elected as the first Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire in May 2025, becoming the first Reform UK member to hold that office. The BBC reported that she would oversee an annual budget of £24 million and hold responsibilities including skills development, transport, and economic growth.

What Is the Role of the Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire?

The position was established through a devolution deal that created the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority. The mayor works alongside leaders from Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council, and North East Lincolnshire Council. The authority’s remit covers transport, housing, skills, economic growth, and environmental policy across the region.

When Did Andrea Jenkyns Become Mayor?

She was elected on 1 May 2025 and took office shortly after. Her victory marked a significant moment for Reform UK, which had not previously held a directly elected mayoral position. The election was widely covered by national and regional media, with the BBC noting her background as a former Greggs employee and Miss UK finalist.

What Is Andrea Jenkyns’ Net Worth and Book ‘Insomniac’?

No official public financial disclosure detailing Jenkyns’ net worth appears in the top search results or in the available official records. Her income sources have included her parliamentary salary as an MP, ministerial pay during her tenure as a skills minister, and earnings from her earlier career in retail management and music. No authoritative estimate of her personal wealth has been published by reliable sources.

Regarding the book Insomniac, search queries frequently associate this title with Jenkyns, but no authoritative evidence was found in the provided research materials to confirm that she wrote or published a book by that name. The title does not appear on her official website or in mainstream biographical coverage. This remains an unconfirmed detail that may originate from informal or social media sources.

What Other Income Sources Does Andrea Jenkyns Have?

Before entering Parliament, she worked in retail management for 18 years and also earned income as a music tutor and as a professional soprano. She released an album, Ilyis, in 2006. As a former MP, she would have received ministerial pay during her time as a skills minister. Her current mayoral role comes with a salary set by the combined authority, though the exact figure has not been widely published.

What Is Andrea Jenkyns’ Singing Background?

FE Week reported that she is an operatic soprano and released an album called Ilyis in 2006 under the name Andrea. She has been referred to as the “Voice of the Shires.” The BBC also noted her background as a former Greggs employee and Miss UK finalist in its coverage of her mayoral election.

What Are the Key Milestones in Andrea Jenkyns’ Career?

1. 1974 – Born on 16 June in Beverley, Humberside, England.
2. 2009 – Elected to Lincolnshire County Council.
3. 2015 – Elected as Conservative MP for Morley and Outwood, defeating Ed Balls.
4. 2022 – Served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills under Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.
5. 2023 – Appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in Boris Johnson’s Resignation Honours.
6. 2024 – Left Parliament on 30 May; left the Conservative Party and joined Reform UK in November.
7. 2025 – Elected as the first Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire on 1 May.

What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear About Andrea Jenkyns?

What Does Andrea Jenkyns’ Political Journey Mean for 2025?

Jenkyns’ transition from Conservative MP to Reform UK mayor reflects a broader realignment in British politics. She was a Conservative whip and minister before leaving the party, and her move to Reform UK positions her as a prominent figure in the party’s push for regional representation. Her victory in Greater Lincolnshire gives Reform UK its first directly elected mayor, a platform the party is likely to build on in future elections.

Her public profile blends traditional political conservatism with celebrity-like elements, including her singing career, her memoir references, and her direct social media presence. The BBC noted that her mayoral win placed her in charge of a £24 million budget, giving her significant influence over the region’s economic and transport agenda.

The lack of detail on her personal life, particularly regarding her partner and son, may reflect a deliberate choice to maintain privacy, despite high public search interest. This gap between public curiosity and available information is a notable feature of her online presence.

Where Can You Find Reliable Information About Andrea Jenkyns?

The most authoritative sources for information about Andrea Jenkyns are her official website, the UK Parliament’s official record, and the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority’s profile of the mayor. Her Wikipedia entry provides a comprehensive overview of her political career, while BBC News offers verified reporting on her election and policy work. Her X/Twitter account, @andreajenkyns, is a direct source of her public statements and campaign activities.

“Her victory as the first Reform UK mayor represents a notable moment for the party, which has been seeking to translate its national polling into elected offices.”

— BBC News, reporting on the 2025 mayoral election

“Jenkyns was appointed a DBE in the 2023 Resignation Honours of Boris Johnson, recognising her political service.”

— FE Week, on her damehood

What Is the Full Picture of Andrea Jenkyns’ Life and Career?

Andrea Jenkyns has moved from retail management and local government to the House of Commons, a ministerial role, and now the mayoralty of Greater Lincolnshire. Her political journey from Conservative insider to Reform UK leader is one of the more notable shifts in recent British regional politics. While much of her professional life is well documented, key aspects of her personal life — including her partner, her son’s health, and the details of her net worth — remain private or unconfirmed. For readers interested in the broader political landscape of the UK, Theresa May – Biography, Brexit and Current Role offers additional context on Conservative Party leadership during the period Jenkyns served as an MP. Another profile worth exploring is Patrick Christys – Bio, Net Worth, Wife, Education, Career, which covers another prominent media and political figure in the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions About Andrea Jenkyns