Lincolnshire Exhibition accused of 'political balance' problem as Liz Truss to speak
Former Prime Minister Liz Truss will appear at the upcoming Lincolnshire Exhibition, but unions have accused the event of political bias.
The annual event was created by Reform Mayor Andrea Jenkyns to showcase the best of Lincolnshire, particularly its food, defence and energy sectors.
High-profile Reform figures Zia Yusuf and Newark MP Robert Jenrick will be speaking at the event, along with former Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, who ran the country for 49 days.
They will be joined by two conservative Republicans from Texas, state Representative Carrie Isaac and former Representative Jason Isaac.
The Deputy Director No 10 North, Duncan Parish, has also been added to the line-up as a last-minute addition.
Bradley Wall, chairman of Lincoln and District Trades Council, said: “Nobody objects to Greater Lincolnshire showcasing its businesses, entrepreneurs, engineers, farmers, scientists and innovators. That is precisely what an economic development authority should be doing.
“But when you look at the headline programme, the political balance is impossible to ignore.
“If this is genuinely an economic development event, then the Combined County Authority should explain the criteria used to select its political speakers and demonstrate that this isn’t simply providing a publicly funded platform for a particular political outlook.”
The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority has declined to comment.
The free event, which is modelled on the Victorian Great Exhibition of 1851, will be held at the Lincolnshire Showground on Wednesday, October 21, and aims to attract more investment to the county.
Andy Burnham – at the time the Mayor of Greater Manchester – addressed the event last year, although there are no major Labour or other centre-left figures on the bill this year.
Promotional material for the event says: “Bringing together more than 1,000 business leaders, investors, policymakers and international representatives, The Great Exhibition will showcase how Greater Lincolnshire feeds, powers and protects the nation.
“Agriculture and food production will be at its heart, with businesses and innovators demonstrating our region’s strengths and exploring opportunities for growth, investment and collaboration.”
Representatives from countries including Taiwan, Bangladesh, Canada, the United States and Poland will add to the international mix in attendance.
The 2025 event cost approximately £69,000, with £28,000 of private and in-kind sponsorship.
Mayor Dame Andrea said: “This isn’t a traditional business exhibition. It’s a glimpse into the future, from robots and artificial intelligence to AgTech, defence innovation and even space warfare.
"Greater Lincolnshire already plays a critical role in feeding, powering and defending out country. The Great Exhibition is about bringing innovators from our area together with national and international leaders and asking: what comes next?”