Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Reform UK’s candidate for the inaugural Greater Lincolnshire mayor, has appeared to diverge from party leader Nigel Farage regarding perspectives on children with special educational needs (SEND).
The former Conservative minister has openly shared her personal experiences with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which she and her young son have both been diagnosed with.
At a press conference last week, Mr Farage remarked that he believed the current rate of special educational needs diagnoses among children was excessive.
He commented, “Many of these SEND diagnoses before the age of 18, and disability register assessments for adults, take place over Zoom with the family GP.
“I’m not being insensitive, but I do think there is significant over-diagnosis when it comes to mental health and various behavioural disabilities.”
Responding to these remarks, Dame Andrea told the BBC that she and Mr Farage “are not always going to agree on everything.”
“No party expects full agreement from all its members. I certainly didn’t always agree as a Conservative—I was often critical,” she noted.
“I can only draw from my own experience as both a neurodiverse person and as a parent. Having served as an MP, I have seen too many cases where children are being left behind after lengthy waits for assessment and support.”
Dame Andrea highlighted that some families face diagnosis waiting times of three to four years, “by which point children enter secondary school significantly behind their peers.”
“I moved my child from mainstream to private education because he had fallen two years behind. As a parent, you do all you can to support your child. I see his daily challenges, and for me, it is crucial to ensure every child has the opportunity to begin life on the best footing, regardless of their background.”
A source close to Nigel Farage later clarified that his intention was to highlight concerns about the potential over-diagnosis of mental health conditions in children.
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