By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
A local Conservative leader has dismissed controversy that saw Lee Anderson’s wife suspended from the party as “a storm in a teacup”.
Councillor Sinead Anderson, who sits on Nottinghamshire County Council, appeared in a photo from the Reform UK campaign earlier this month.
The party has since suspended her pending an investigation.
A tweet earlier this month showed her at a campaign stop for Reform’s East Midlands Mayoral candidate Alan Graves.
However, Councillor Ben Bradley – the leader of the Conservative group on Nottinghamshire County Council – is also campaigning for the position.
The picture was taken in Ashfield, which Mr Anderson represents as an MP.
He was removed from the Conservative party last month and has now joined Reform UK.
Cllr Sinead Anderson is also part of the Conservative group on Mansfield District Council, representing Mansfield West.
Group leader Councillor Andre Camilleri dismissed the complaints against her, saying there would be no investigation on a district level.
“She’s not going to join the Reform party, she was just there with her husband and she got in a photo,” he said.
“It’s a storm in a tea cup – it’s ridiculous. Absolutely nothing.”
He described the complaint as “mischief”.
Councillor Chris Barnfather, Conservative Group Business Manager at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “We are aware that Conservative Central Office has received a complaint regarding Councillor Anderson from an Independent Alliance councillor.
“The matter is under investigation in accordance with Conservative Party rules, and we as a Group are in contact with Conservative Party headquarters pending an outcome, which we hope will be forthcoming expeditiously.”
Cllr Anderson has been contacted for comment.
Also standing in the East Midlands Mayoral race are Frank Adlington-Stringer (Green), Matt Relf (Independent), Helen Tamblyn-Saville (Liberal Democrat) and Clare Ward (Labour).
The election will be held on Thursday, May 2.
