The constituency of Great Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire was part of the so-called “red wall” of Labour seats which collapsed at the 2019 election – Great Grimsby was won by the Conservatives for the first time since 1935.
Neighbouring Cleethorpes – a bellwether seat – also voted Conservative.
How voters view partygate will be crucial in places like these Lincolnshire constituencies – along with their perceptions of Boris Johnson and whether he broke the rules he made and is fit for office.
But in Great Grimsby, the sense of great expectation exuded by Westminster in anticipation of the Sue Gray report is hard to find.
And the overwhelming message is that people are tired of hearing about partygate and want to move on with their lives after the trauma of the pandemic.
The fish market
Grimsby’s fishing heyday has long gone. On the day we visited the fish market, they were selling cod and haddock to traders – and all of it had come from Iceland. But there seemed little interest in the forthcoming Gray report.
Martin Boyers, chief executive of Grimsby Fish Market, said: “I don’t think many people at Grimsby Fish Market are interested in the Sue Gray report or understand who she is.”
Boris Johnson visited the fish market on the campaign trail in 2019, and he impressed traders with his Brexit message.
Patrick Salmon, owner of Alfred Enderby fish smokers, said: “Whether somebody has a party, it doesn’t affect my economy or my businesses.
“Yes, it’s bad form, but I’m not convinced any other person would have done any differently.”
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Source : skynews
