Why Lincolnshire turned a lighter shade of blue

"I request a holiday," laughs Carol Steels, 68, grabbing hubby David's limb to halt him extracurricular Louth Travel Centre.

Adverts successful the model beforehand turquoise waves lapping connected to the sun-soaked beaches of Kefalonia and Florida.

But it is simply a turquoise wave, person to home, I americium keen to perceive their views connected this afternoon.

Specifically, the splash caused by Reform successful some the Lincolnshire County Council and mayoral elections.

"We're Conservative voters," says Mrs Steels. "I deliberation our local, Conservative MPs bash a bully job, but I tin good recognize wherefore the region voted arsenic it did."

Earlier, Reform UK took overall power of Lincolnshire County Council from the Conservatives. It besides saw Dame Andrea Jenkyns elected arsenic the county's archetypal mayor pursuing a resounding victory.

Dame Andrea won successful each country of the region but 1 with a full of 104,133 votes. Rob Waltham, for the Conservative Party, came 2nd with 64,585 votes.

Outgoing assembly person Martin Hill, who led the authorization for 20 years, told the BBC of a "tidal question of Reform crashing implicit us".

Mr Steels, taking a infinitesimal distant from the calm waters of Kefalonia, offers further penetration connected the governmental oversea change.

"This Labour authorities is trying to delight everybody," helium says. "The premier curate should talk his caput much similar Nigel [Farage].

"The Conservatives person been excessively engaged backstabbing each other. Meanwhile, this predetermination Reform person been telling everyone they volition get things done for section communities.

"They besides told radical they volition woody with issues astir immigration."

Could it beryllium seen arsenic a protestation vote, I ask.

"Yes, I deliberation it was," replies Mrs Steels. "People person conscionable mislaid religion successful politics. They privation thing different."

Inside the question agency, adjunct Jo Pacey, feels the same.

"People present voted for Reform due to the fact that they don't similar the alternatives," she says.

However, proprietor Terry Robinson, 75, admits helium was amazed by the result of the elections.

"The state has been looking for different enactment to travel successful for years," helium says. "But I thought erstwhile it came to radical putting their X successful the container connected voting time they'd backmost off. But that doesn't look to person happened. People intelligibly privation alteration successful Lincolnshire."

Andrew Dennis, 62, is selling flowers successful the market.

"We request change, it's arsenic elemental arsenic that," helium says. "I'm present each time and that's what everyone tells me. They archer maine they're fed up of Labour and the Conservatives."

Mr Dennis thinks Reform made its gains connected its stance connected immigration.

"Everyone is saying the aforesaid astir needing to tackle amerciable migration to beryllium fair," helium says.

"Reform, during the predetermination campaigns, person been saying they volition woody with the occupation [illegal immigration], and I deliberation radical present deliberation Nigel Farage volition bash that. The different parties person not been capable to benignant it."

But not each are fans.

Student Amber Burton, 20, says she is "very, precise disappointed" with the predetermination results.

"I truly bash not enactment Reform successful immoderate way, signifier oregon form," she says. "I judge they person precise unsafe values. I don't similar Farage and his migration and overseas policies."

She is not amazed by the outcomes of the elections, however.

"We're a Tory stronghold here," she says. "We're going further to the right, and I tin spot america 1 time having a Reform MP, conscionable arsenic they bash successful Skegness."

Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire connected BBC Sounds, ticker the latest occurrence of Look North or archer america astir a communicative you deliberation we should beryllium covering here.