Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire

What was the result of the 2025 Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election? 

Dame Andrea Jenkyns was the winner of the May 2025 Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election. Jenkyns represents the Reform UK party and was previously a Conservative MP from 2015–24. 

Jenkyn’s highest share of the vote was in East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire County Counsil with 51.2% and their lowest was in North Lincolnshire with 36.7%. 

The overall turnout for the 2025 Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election was 30.2%. The highest turnout was in East Lindsey District Council (35.4%) and the lowest turnout was in North East Lincolnshire (24.0%). ⁷⁸ Turner J, ‘Rob Waltham to represent Conservatives in Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election’, Lincolnshire World, 11 December 2024, retrieved 18 February 2025, www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/politics/rob-waltham-to-represent-conservatives-in-greater-lincolnshire-mayoral-election-4905724

The Conservative Party’s candidate was Rob Waltham, who has been leader of North Lincolnshire Council since 2017. ⁷⁹ Turner J, ‘Rob Waltham to represent Conservatives in Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election’, Lincolnshire World, 11 December 2024, retrieved 18 February 2025, www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/politics/rob-waltham-to-represent-conservatives-in-greater-lincolnshire-mayoral-election-4905724  Labour’s candidate was Jason Stockwood, a businessman and co-owner of Grimsby Town FC. ⁸⁰ Waller J, ‘Grimsby businessman names as Labour’s candidate for Greater Lincolnshire mayor’, Lincolnshire Live, 22 November 2024, retrieved 18 February 2025, www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/lincoln-news/grimsby-businessman-named-labours-candidate-9737863  Other candidates were Trevor Young (Liberal Democrat), ⁸¹ Waller J, ‘"A fair deal for our community!” Lib Dem Greater Lincolnshire mayoral candidate announced’, LincsOnline, 2 April 2025, retrieved 3 April 2025, www.lincsonline.co.uk/gainsborough/a-fair-deal-for-our-community-latest-greater-lincolnshire-9411236  Sally Horscroft (Green Party) and Marianne Overton (independent). ⁸² Maslin E, ‘Greater Lincolnshire mayor 2025: The candidates’, BBC News, 6 March 2025, retrieved 7 March 2025, www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3376p6ldyyo

What is the history of devolution to Greater Lincolnshire?

A complicating factor in implementing devolution in the region has been the question of whether to favour a ‘Greater Lincolnshire’ or a ‘cross-Humber’ footprint. North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire have a history of working on a cross-Humber basis as part of the county of Humberside from 1974 to 1996, along with Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire. In 2013, these four unitary authorities and the Humber local enterprise partnership signed the Hull and Humber City Deal with the government. ⁸³ Prime Minister’s Office, 10 Downing Street, Deputy Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office, City Deal: Hull & Humber, 13 December 2013, retrieved 18 February 2025, www.gov.uk/government/publications/city-deal-hull-humber  This gave new funding and powers to the region and aimed to grow its economy, increase skills and improve job opportunities.

In 2016, the government signed a Greater Lincolnshire devolution agreement that instead grouped North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire with Lincolnshire County Council, the seven district councils in Lincolnshire. ⁸⁴ HM Treasury, Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal, 16 March 2016, retrieved 20 February 2025, www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-lincolnshire-devolution-deal  This deal was ultimately not implemented after Lincolnshire County Council chose not to ratify the deal due to opposition to the mayoral model. ⁸⁵ Paine D, ‘County backs out of Lincs devo deal’, Local Government Chronicle, 20 October 2016, retrieved 20 February 2025, www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/county-backs-out-of-lincs-devo-deal-20-10-2016

The government then pursued a pan-Humber combined authority instead, ⁸⁶ Bunn J, ‘Leader backs county-wide devo over “only option” Humber deal’, LGC, 6 March 2020, retrieved 18 February 2025, www.lgcplus.com/politics/devolution-and-economic-growth/leader-backs-county-wide-devo-over-only-option-humber-deal-06-03-2020  but plans for this were dropped in 2020 after North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire declared a preference for a Greater Lincolnshire footprint. ⁸⁷ Young A, ‘Hull and East Riding council leaders back diluted devolution deal’, Hull Live, 12 March 2020, retrieved 18 February 2025, www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/devolution-deal-hull-east-riding-3944912

In November 2023, the Conservative government agreed a mayoral devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire with Lincolnshire County Council, North East Lincolnshire Council and North Lincolnshire Council. ⁸⁸ Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal 2023, 22 November 2023, retrieved 18 February 2025, www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-lincolnshire-devolution-deal-2023  The three councils voted to proceed with the deal in March 2024 ⁸⁹ Lincolnshire County Council, ‘Council votes to proceed with devolution’, 13 March 2024, retrieved 20 February 2025, www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/news/article/1785/council-votes-to-proceed-with-devolution  and the new Labour government confirmed that it would proceed with the deal in September 2024. ⁹⁰ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, ‘Major step forward in government’s devolution revolution as new powers agreed for English regions’, MHCLG in the Media blog, https://mhclgmedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/09/19/major-step-forward-in-governments-devolution-revolution-as-new-powers-agreed-for-english-regions/  

The statutory instrument to create the combined county authority – the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025 – was laid before parliament on 11 December 2024 ⁹¹ ‘Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Regulations 2025’, UK Parliament, retrieved 20 February 2025, https://statutoryinstruments.parliament.uk/instrument/iVFsFcMk/timeline/Fa1mKMbl  and came into force on 5 February 2025. ⁹² McMahon J, ‘English devolution and local government: statement made on 5 February: statement UIN HCWS418’, UK Parliament, 5 February 2025, retrieved 18 February 2025, https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-02-05/hcws418  

What is the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority?

The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA) brings together three upper-tier local authorities: Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council.  

GLCCA is the second combined county authority (CCA) to be established, after the East Midlands Combined County Authority was created in 2024. Unlike combined authorities, CCAs can be established in two-tier areas without the consent or formal involvement of district councils.

The mayor of Greater Lincolnshire chairs the GLCCA board. Each of the three upper-tier local authorities is a ‘constituent member’ and has two representatives with full voting rights. ⁹⁹ Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council, ‘Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Proposal’, November 2023, p. 21, www.northlincs.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Greater-Lincolnshire-Combined-Authority-Proposal.pdf   

The GLCCA board also has ‘non-constituent members’, without automatic voting rights, including one of the area’s two police and crime commissioners and four representatives of the district councils. ¹⁰⁰ Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council, ‘Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Proposal’, November 2023, p. 21, www.northlincs.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Greater-Lincolnshire-Combined-Authority-Proposal.pdf  However, as in other parts of England, the two-tier local government structure in Lincolnshire is due to be replaced by a single tier of unitary authorities, at which point the precise membership of the GLCCA board is likely to change.

It is also expected that a business representative will be an ‘associate member’ without voting rights. ¹⁰¹ Lincolnshire County Council, North Lincolnshire Council and North East Lincolnshire Council, ‘Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority Proposal’, November 2023, pp. 22 and 24, www.northlincs.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Greater-Lincolnshire-Combined-Authority-Proposal.pdf

Building on the work of the Humber Leadership Board, there are plans to encourage pan-Humber working between GLCCA and the new Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority by forming a new mayoral joint committee. ¹⁰² Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, ‘Continued Pan Humber Working’ Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, (no date) retrieved 20 February 2025, www.hullandeastyorkshire.gov.uk/combined-authority/hull-east-yorkshire-combined-authority-proposal/6  This will comprise of the two mayors, council leaders and business representatives.

Greater Lincolnshire had a population of 1.1m in 2023 ¹⁰³ Office for National Statistics, ‘Estimates of the population for England and Wales: mid-2023’, 15 July 2024, www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/estimatesofthepopulationforenglandandwales  and a gross value added (GVA) of £29bn in 2022. ¹⁰⁴ Office for National Statistics, ‘Regional gross value added (balanced) by industry: local authorities by ITL1 region’, 2024, www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossdomesticproductgdp/datasets/regionalgrossvalueaddedbalancedbyindustrylocalauthoritiesbyitl1region

What powers do the mayor and the combined authority hold?

The mayor and combined county authority hold devolved powers over economic development, transport, skills, and housing and planning. ¹⁰⁹ Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal 2023, 22 November 2023, retrieved 18 February 2025, www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-lincolnshire-devolution-deal-2023

GLCCA controls an investment fund of £24m per year for 30 years. ¹¹⁰ Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal 2023, 22 November 2023, retrieved 18 February 2025, p. 8, www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-lincolnshire-devolution-deal-2023  The new mayor is able to set a precept on council tax for mayoral functions and charge a business rates supplement for economic development projects.

The combined county authority is the area’s local transport authority and holds responsibilities concurrently with the constituent councils until 31 March 2026. The mayor is responsible for a multi-year consolidated local transport settlement and developing the area-wide local transport plan. GLCCA also has bus franchising powers and coordinates a key route network of local roads on behalf of the mayor.

The combined county authority will be fully responsible for the adult skills fund from the academic year 2026/27, providing it meets the government’s readiness conditions. It will also have input into the area’s local skills improvement plan.

GLCCA has land assembly and compulsory purchase powers, subject to consent from the constituent councils where it is located. The mayor is able to establish mayoral development corporations, also subject to agreement from the relevant council(s).

The mayor and GLCCA are likely to take on more powers over time. The government’s English devolution white paper, published in December 2024, set out plans to devolve further powers across areas including local growth, strategic planning, transport, skills and employment support. ¹¹¹ Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, English Devolution White Paper: Power and partnership: Foundations for growth, CP 1218, The Stationery Office, 16 December 2024, retrieved 20 February 2025, www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth  It also stated the criteria to achieve ‘Established Mayoral Strategic Authority’ status, which would give GLCCA additional powers and a single-pot ‘integrated’ funding settlement. ¹¹² Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, English Devolution White Paper: Power and partnership: Foundations for growth, CP 1218, The Stationery Office, 16 December 2024, retrieved 20 February 2025, www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-devolution-white-paper-power-and-partnership-foundations-for-growth

How does GLCCA compare to the rest of the UK in terms of social and economic outcomes?

Greater Lincolnshire performs below the national average across a range of social and economic outcomes. Productivity in the region is significantly below the UK average, although it is higher in North Lincolnshire than the other two local authorities. Income in Greater Lincolnshire is also less than the national average.

The region performs below the national average on metrics including key stage two attainment, skills, housing condition, male healthy life expectancy and use of public transport to work. However, the employment rate for 16–64 year olds in Greater Lincolnshire is 76.7%, slightly exceeding the UK average of 75.5%.

There is significant variation in digital connectivity across Greater Lincolnshire. 91% of total premises in North East Lincolnshire have gigabit availability, compared to 73% in North Lincolnshire and 57% in Lincolnshire. 

How does GLCCA overlap with other administrative boundaries?

The Greater Lincolnshire area is split across two ‘International Territorial Level 1’ English regions. Lincolnshire is in the East Midlands, while North and North East Lincolnshire are part of Yorkshire and the Humber. ¹¹⁹ Office for National Statistics, ‘International geographies’, (no date) retrieved 20 February 2025, www.ons.gov.uk/methodology/geography/ukgeographies/eurostat

The GLCCA area is not coterminous with police force or fire and rescue service areas. Lincolnshire Police and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue do not extend to North and North East Lincolnshire, which are covered by Humberside.  

The area is split between two integrated care boards. Lincolnshire ICB does not cover North and North East Lincolnshire, which are part of Humber and North Yorkshire ICB instead. The GLCCA area also spans two Department for Education regions – the East Midlands ¹²⁰ ‘Regional Director for East Midlands’ (no date) retrieved 20 February 2025, www.gov.uk/government/people/carol-gray  and Yorkshire and Humber. ¹²¹ ‘Regional Director for Yorkshire and Humber: Alison Wilson’ (no date) retrieved 20 February 2025, www.gov.uk/government/people/alison-wilson

Greater Lincolnshire spans two sub-national transport bodies – Transport for the North and Midlands Connect. ¹²² Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal 2023, 22 November 2023, retrieved 18 February 2025, p. 8, www.gov.uk/government/publications/greater-lincolnshire-devolution-deal-2023

The GLCCA area is coterminous with the former Greater Lincolnshire local enterprise partnership (LEP). The LEP’s strategic functions have been integrated into the new combined county authority and GLCCA will create a new business board to ensure a business voice informs decision-making. ¹²³ Lincolnshire County Council, ‘Lasting legacy left by Greater Lincolnshire LEP’, 3 February 2025, retrieved 20 February 2052, https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/news/article/2228/lasting-legacy-left-by-greater-lincolnshire-lep-

The Humber Freeport – a special port where normal tax and customs rules do not apply – covers four major ports on both sides of the Humber, across Hull and East Yorkshire and North and North East Lincolnshire. ¹²⁴ Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, Humber Freeport: Britain’s Global Gateway, Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, (no date) retrieved 20 February 2025, www.greaterlincolnshirelep.co.uk/assets/documents/Humber_Freeport_Fact_Sheet.pdf