Andrea Jenkyns, the Reform mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, walked out of a meeting with communities secretary Steve Reed and other mayors on Thursday following a row over the role of social media in community tensions after the murder of Henry Nowak.
The meeting, intended to discuss devolution powers, turned to social cohesion after recent far-right demonstrations. Reed blamed hostile foreign actors for exacerbating tensions via social media, which prompted Jenkyns to react angrily. She argued that social cohesion requires freedom of speech and accused Labour of deflecting criticism over the government's handling of the case.
Labour mayors Steve Rotheram and Tracy Brabin challenged her comments, with Rotheram referencing her past Conservative role during the Hillsborough disaster. Jenkyns then muttered something and left, while her Reform colleague Luke Campbell remained.
Jenkyns later denied storming out, saying she left early due to 'hypocrisy' and defended her stance on free speech. The row overshadowed the meeting's main focus on devolution powers.
