Lee Anderson's wife cleared of campaigning for Reform Party after photo emerged

The wife of Ashfield MP Lee Anderson has been reinstated as a Conservative councillor after questions over links with her husband’s Reform UK party. Sinead Anderson, who sits on Nottinghamshire County Council, appeared in a photo from the Reform UK campaign last month.

She has been cleared following an investigation into the connections. Her political allegiance became a source of fierce argument at a full council meeting, with opposition members claiming she shouldn’t remain as Deputy Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

Council leader Ben Bradley (Con) said Cllr Anderson does a “fantastic job”, and accused opponents of crossing a line in their attacks. Mr Anderson, MP for Ashfield, joined Reform UK after being removed from the Conservative Party.

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The photo was taken at a campaign event for Reform’s East Midlands mayoral candidate Alan Graves, with Cllr Anderson appearing in the back along with party supporters. Speaking at the full council meeting on Thursday (May 16), Councillor Jason Zadrozny (Ind) said: “Reform UK is supported by your cabinet member, and she is happy to be pictured with candidates who also supported Reform.

“How do you think teachers and parents feel about someone so aligned with Reform being put in responsibility of children and young people’s services? How do you keep Cllr Anderson in a job?”

Cllr Bradley responded: “Councillor Anderson is a member of the Conservative party, much loved and respected, and doesn’t campaign for Reform. Those allegations have been investigated and cleared.

“She is a kind and decent person who does a fantastic job. If you want to have a battle with Lee Anderson, have a battle with him, not his wife.”

He added: “People don’t attack political opponents by going after their family.”

Cllr Anderson wasn’t present at the meeting, having suffered a fall. She also sits on Mansfield District Council, where she was never suspended as a Conservative member. Cllr Zadrozny is planning to stand against Mr Anderson in the next General Election.