The Poorest Town In Britain: "We Live On Nothing And We're Just Surviving"

Summary

The video script provides a poignant look at the struggles faced by the residents of Grimsby's East Marsh estate, which is recognized as one of the most impoverished areas in England and Wales. With an average annual household income significantly below the national average, the community grapples with issues ranging from crime and antisocial behavior to inadequate housing and the rising cost of living. Despite the bleak outlook, the narrative also highlights the resilience and community spirit within East Marsh, as well as efforts to alleviate poverty through charitable support and the town's historical fishing industry's adaptation to new challenges. The script candidly discusses the impact of Brexit, the decline of traditional industries, and the need for government intervention to improve living standards and create new job opportunities in the region.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ Grimsby's East Marsh is one of the most deprived areas in the UK, with high levels of crime, antisocial behavior, and homelessness.
• 💰 The average annual household income in East Marsh is significantly lower than the UK national average, making it the poorest part of the country.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Residents like Natalie struggle to make ends meet on benefits, especially during the holiday season when the cost of living increases.
• 🏠 Single mom Cheryl lives in a home with mold and mice, and the rising cost of energy makes it difficult to heat her home adequately.
• 📈 The cost of living has risen sharply in recent years, with energy prices increasing by up to 60%, impacting families and individuals significantly.
• 🍽️ Despite the economic challenges, the local fish and chip shop offers affordable meals, supporting the community with low-cost food options.
• 📊 There's a significant increase in the need for charitable support, such as food banks and energy vouchers, indicating the severity of the poverty issue.
• 🤝 The community is aware of its problems and sometimes unexpected sources within the community provide help, demonstrating resilience and solidarity.
• 📉 Grimsby's fishing industry, once thriving, has declined significantly due to factors like the Cod Wars and the EU's Common Fisheries Policy.
• ♿ The area has a high percentage of part-time workers, long-term unemployed individuals, and people with disabilities, contributing to its economic struggles.
• 👮‍♂️ There is a perception among some that the government does not fully grasp or address the extent of the poverty and joblessness in Grimsby.

Q & A

What is the current situation in the East Marsh area of Grimsby?

East Marsh is the poorest part of the UK with high levels of crime, antisocial behavior, and homelessness. The average annual household income is significantly lower than the national average, leading to struggles with living costs and necessities.

What challenges is Natalie facing despite receiving benefits?

Natalie, a resident of East Marsh, struggles to make ends meet even with benefits, especially during the holiday season. She has to budget carefully for bills, shopping, and Christmas presents, highlighting the difficulty of managing on a low income.

How has the cost of living impacted families in Grimsby?

The cost of living has significantly impacted families in Grimsby, with energy prices rising by up to 60% in the last two years. This has led to difficulties in managing household expenses and maintaining a comfortable living standard.

What is the historical significance of Grimsby's fishing industry?

Grimsby's fishing industry was once globally renowned, with the town becoming the largest and busiest fishing port on Earth at one point. However, the industry declined due to factors like the Cod Wars and the EU's common Fisheries policy, leading to job losses and economic hardship.

What role does the fish market play in Grimsby's current economy?

While the fish market is not as bustling as it once was, it still operates, processing fish from Scotland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Norway for distribution around the UK. The market is a symbol of Grimsby's enduring connection to the fishing industry.

What are the opinions of some locals regarding the cost of living and employment?

Some locals believe that the younger generation is less tolerant of low wages and poor working conditions. There are also views that some people take advantage of benefits and choose not to work, contributing to the economic challenges faced by the community.

How has Brexit affected the perception of Grimsby's fishing industry?

Brexit was seen by some as an opportunity for the UK to take back control of its fishing industry. However, the actual impact has been less positive than anticipated, with the industry still facing challenges and not experiencing the expected resurgence.

What is the role of the local MP in addressing the issues faced by Grimsby?

The local MP, Leon Nichi, is working to represent the people of Grimsby and raise awareness of the town's challenges at the governmental level. She emphasizes the need for sovereignty and the potential benefits of Brexit for the town.

What are the views of the Conservative MP for Grimsby regarding the town's future post-Brexit?

The Conservative MP for Grimsby believes that the town is better off outside the EU and that the fishing industry's decline began with the country's entry into the common market. She is focused on highlighting the potential for new opportunities and the importance of representing Grimsby's interests.

What are the community's thoughts on the local MP's effectiveness?

Some residents have expressed that they rarely see or interact with their local MP and feel disconnected from her work. This suggests a perceived lack of visibility and engagement from the political representative.

How does the community perceive the efforts to improve Grimsby's situation?

There is a sense of urgency and a belief that more can be done to address the issues of poverty, unemployment, and poor living conditions. The community feels that the government needs to step up and recognize the severity of the situation.

Outlines

00:00

😨 Grimsby's Struggles: A Portrait of Poverty and Crime

This paragraph paints a grim picture of Grimsby, a port town in Northeast Lincolnshire, which was once renowned for its bustling fishing industry. The decline of the fishing sector has led to widespread poverty, with the town's East Marsh area now recognized as the poorest in England and Wales. The narrative describes a community grappling with issues such as crime, antisocial behavior, and substance abuse, all exacerbated by low wages and a lack of affordable housing. The government's introduction of Universal Credit and cost of living pay has done little to alleviate the struggles of residents, many of whom are forced to prioritize necessities over luxuries. The story of Natalie, a mother of four, exemplifies the financial challenges faced by many households in the area.

05:02

🏠 Deprivation in East Marsh: A Community in Need

The second paragraph delves deeper into the living conditions of East Marsh, highlighting the stark contrast between the average annual household income in the area and that of the UK national average and London's affluent areas. The narrative introduces Cheryl, a single mother battling a home plagued with mold and mice, and forced to make difficult choices between heating her home and addressing these issues. The paragraph also touches on the community's resilience, with examples such as the local 'chippy' offering affordable meals to those in need. Despite the hardships, there is a sense of pride and community spirit, with local initiatives and establishments like the fish and chip shop providing support to the residents.

10:03

📉 The Fishing Industry's Decline and Its Impact on Grimsby

This section examines the historical context behind Grimsby's economic downturn, focusing on the fishing industry's collapse. The Cod Wars and subsequent disputes over fishing rights had a profound impact on the town's traditional livelihood. The imposition of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy further restricted British fishing activities, leading to job losses and economic hardship. The paragraph also discusses the public's perspective on the role of benefits and work attitudes in the current state of affairs, contrasting with the reality of stagnant benefit increases and the rising cost of living. The narrative underscores the complexity of addressing the town's challenges, which are rooted in long-term unemployment, part-time work, and high percentages of residents with disabilities.

15:05

🌟 Grimsby's Diversification and Hope for the Future

The fourth paragraph explores the efforts to diversify Grimsby's economy in the wake of the fishing industry's decline. It discusses the town's transition from solely a fishing port to an offshore wind farm port, reflecting a broader shift towards renewable energy. The CEO of the fish market, Martin, remains optimistic about Grimsby's future, emphasizing the continued demand for fish and the opportunities in fish processing. The narrative also touches on the Brexit vote's impact on the town, with mixed opinions on whether leaving the EU will ultimately benefit the fishing industry and the community as a whole.

20:07

🗳️ Political Representation and the Community's Outlook

The final paragraph addresses the political landscape and its influence on Grimsby's situation. It features the Conservative MP for Grimsby, who asserts that the town's decision to vote for Brexit was based on sovereignty rather than business interests. The narrative highlights the disconnect between the local MP and constituents, with some residents expressing dissatisfaction with their representation. The paragraph also includes insights from Jane Hilden King, a former mayor who now supports retired workers, emphasizing the importance of employment in addressing poverty. The community's resilience is underscored by the anecdotal perspective of Andy Car, a local entertainer, who speaks to the pride and positive aspects of Grimsby despite its challenges.

Keywords

💡Deprivation

Deprivation refers to a lack or absence of the usual or necessary things that one needs to live a healthy and happy life. In the context of the video, it is a key theme as it describes the living conditions and challenges faced by the residents of East Marsh in Grimsby. The area is depicted as having high levels of poverty, crime, and unemployment, which are all indicators of deprivation.

💡Cost of Living

The cost of living represents the amount of money needed to sustain a certain level of living, including basic expenses such as housing, food, taxes, and healthcare. The video discusses how the rising cost of living has significantly impacted families and individuals in Grimsby, making it difficult for them to afford basic necessities and contributing to the area's economic struggles.

💡Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a social security payment in the UK that has replaced several means-tested benefits. It is designed to support those who are on a low income or out of work. In the video, Universal Credit is mentioned as one of the financial support systems in place for residents of East Marsh, highlighting the reliance on such benefits due to the area's economic challenges.

💡Fishing Industry

The fishing industry involves activities related to the capture and processing of fish and other seafood. It is a significant part of Grimsby's history, with the town once being the largest and busiest fishing port in the world. The decline of this industry is a central narrative in the video, illustrating how the loss of this economic mainstay has led to job losses and contributed to the area's current state of poverty.

💡Poverty

Poverty is the state of lacking the financial means to afford basic needs, such as food, clean water, housing, education, and healthcare. The video emphasizes the prevalence of poverty in East Marsh, with residents struggling to make ends meet and the area having some of the lowest household incomes in England and Wales.

💡Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, such as transportation, water and power lines, and public institutions. The video discusses the lack of infrastructure in Grimsby, which has contributed to the area's decline and the challenges faced by its residents.

💡Economic Inactivity

Economic inactivity describes the state of individuals who are not currently available or seeking for work. It includes those who are retired, students, homemakers, and the long-term unemployed. The video mentions that a significant portion of the population in Grimsby is economically inactive, which is a contributing factor to the area's high poverty rates.

💡Cod Wars

The Cod Wars were a series of disputes between the United Kingdom and Iceland over fishing rights in the North Atlantic. The video highlights the Cod Wars as a pivotal event that led to the decline of the British fishing industry and, subsequently, the economic downturn in Grimsby, which had been a thriving fishing port.

💡Brexit

Brexit refers to the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. The video discusses the impact of Brexit on Grimsby, with some residents expressing hope that it would lead to a resurgence in the fishing industry and others expressing skepticism about its benefits given the existing economic challenges.

💡Energy Debts

Energy debts are the outstanding balances owed by individuals or households for their use of electricity, gas, or other forms of energy. The video mentions a significant increase in energy debts among residents of Grimsby, reflecting the financial strain that rising energy costs place on households already struggling with poverty.

💡Community Engagement

Community engagement involves the active participation of community members in activities or initiatives that affect their local environment. The video showcases examples of community engagement in Grimsby, such as the efforts of the local fish and chip shop owner to provide affordable meals and the work of the Citizens Advice service to support those in need.

Highlights

The East Marsh estate in Grimsby is depicted as a challenging environment, with issues like crime and poverty affecting the community.

Grimsby was once known for its thriving fishing industry, which has since declined, leading to job losses and economic hardship.

The average annual household income in East Marsh is significantly lower than the UK national average, making it one of the poorest areas in the country.

Residents struggle to make ends meet, with some relying on benefits and facing difficult choices during the holiday season.

The cost of living has risen sharply, with energy prices increasing by up to 60% in the last two years, exacerbating financial pressures on families.

Despite the challenges, there is a sense of community and support, with local businesses like a fish and chip shop offering affordable meals to the community.

The demand for services like food banks and emergency support has risen by 300% in recent years, indicating the severity of the situation.

Unemployment, part-time work, and high percentages of residents with disabilities contribute to the area's economic struggles.

The fishing industry's decline was accelerated by events like the Cod Wars and the EU's common Fisheries policy, leading to a loss of thousands of jobs.

Grimsby's fishing heritage center and retired fishermen share stories of the town's past, highlighting the deep impact of the industry's decline on the community.

The town has seen some diversification, with Grimsby also becoming an offshore wind farm port, offering new opportunities.

Despite Brexit offering potential opportunities, local fishermen and business leaders have not seen the expected benefits for the fishing industry.

The Conservative MP for Grimsby acknowledges the town's challenges but believes it is on the path to improvement.

Residents express a desire for more government support and intervention to address the area's issues.

The community's pride and love for Grimsby is evident, with locals advocating for a more balanced view that acknowledges the positive aspects of the town.

The future of Grimsby is uncertain, with some expressing hope for improvement and others highlighting the need for significant change.

Transcripts

give us an idea how rough It is Well the

seagulls got flick

knives it's that rough Queens be's got

issues everyone's got issues Society

like um no one could afford feeding

themselves

government police cars up and down the

streets there was a murder down that end

of the street a couple years back so

it's not got the best reputation they're

getting things like uh Universal Credit

and they're also getting the cost of

living pay

and they're going out and spending it on

uh maybe alcohol and substances we had a

stabbing that next door to me and a few

door stand I had um arist with petrol

bombs Grimsby for hundreds of years this

port town in Northeast lincolshire on

the river Humber Esty punched well above

its

weight its fishing industry became known

around the world 285 90 90 280 a keil

out and at one point the town became the

largest and busiest fishing port on

Earth but after the industry started

falling poverty came

next and with the fish gone the town

changed with job losses low wages and a

lack of

infrastructure today average annual

household incomes in the town's East

Marsh are the lowest of anywhere in

England and Wales making it the poorest

part of the country these flag represent

our country in TAS this is real

britania it's a weekday morning on

grimsby's East Marsha estate where where

residents are beginning their day in the

poorest part of the nation of course

that's not to say everyone here is

living on the poverty line but the data

is

striking the average annual income for

an entire household here sits at just

22,000 a year that's over 10 grand less

than the UK national average and almost

a staggering

86,000 below London's affluent clap area

which has the highest in the country at

just above £

108,000 it's in East Marsh where we meet

Natalie who lives in the center of the

estate with her partner and four

children she receives around £22,000 a

month in benefit but as she begins her

shopping with Christmas on the way she's

struggling to make ends meet I get tight

well especially this time of year I get

tight on my budget I'll make sure my

bills and I done my big shop and then

whatever's left I get a little bits

obviously my Christmas presents and my

son's birthday present birthday stuff at

moment I'm not one of these with loads

and loads of money like where you can

just spend it every day and just go and

do big shoppings I get quite a few

benefits at the moment cuz I'm class

just one of the boys Caris cuz one of

them is

disabled so um I start to get my

Christmas presents and I done my

shopping online which is a lot cheaper

than in shops and Natalie isn't alone up

and down the country the cost of living

has hit homes and families hard with the

price of energy Rising by up to 60% in

the last 2 years and those Rises are

felt acutely

here single mom Cheryl lives in a

property that's covered in black mold

and infested with mice but turning up

the heating means less money for her and

the kids it is very difficult I've got

like I said four kids and then I'm

trying to keep on top of mold

mice and

condensation Windows because I've got

that one and my bathroom Windows the

same as well so it it is difficult I've

got my heating on all day every day

because obviously with the condensation

it means the Heat's escaping so my house

is colder than what it should

be so I'm paying more on my gas and

electric than I should be per week just

to keep the house warm to keep my kids

warm it is it is very tight yeah I mean

I make sure my kids have always got what

they need but yeah is definitely it's

can be a struggle it feels awful you

know I've got the kids coming up to me

you know we need to sort the mold out in

the room again mommy or we've just seen

a mouse run across the floor mommy you

know it's it's not

pleasant stories like this are sadly

nothing new for Grimsby and especially

the East Marsh the area is the most

deprived across the whole of Northeast

Lincolnshire and nearly every street is

in the the top 1% of deprivation across

the

country it's become associated with

higher levels of crime antisocial

behavior and homelessness something

visible all over grimby I I want

somewhere to live I want somewhere to go

I want to

work but I'm just finding it

hard how long have you been living on

the streets for now and what's that

I

hell that's just about it really

residents here are aware of the problems

and sometimes help from within the

community can come from the unlikeliest

of sources with the lowest incomes in

the country it's perhaps no surprise

that the nation's cheapest chippy is

right here in East Marsh where a portion

of fish and chips with a side of peas

will set you back only

£3 UK fish and chip prices have sld in

recent years with the classic takeaway

Now setting customers back £9 on average

but at Matthews chippy on East Marsha

Stanley Street owner Stan Matthews

explains how he keeps his prices at Rock

Bottom because I'm down on the docks we

buy our own fish uh we smoke we've got

our own Smoke House um so it all comes

in line where we can get that product a

bit cheaper saying that they they have

gone up we we used to be £250

but because light gas has gone up

Electric's gone up um the like every all

the raw materials are gone up so we have

to R it by 50 P so so £3 are still

getting a good meal for £3 with prices

like this and with a community in need

he serves plenty of punes every day who

queue outside the door even before it

opens some eer every night of the week

and the product is well received

including By

Me 3 fish and chips I mean that's a

steal isn't it it's it's great for us

pensioners every every penny counts

don't it three quid you can't knock it

can you I come here um oh every every

time for uh fishing sheeps the portion

you get is brilliant absolutely amazing

it's quality good meal you can't be buy

a burger

for3 than

you there's not a lot of money in it we

we earn enough just to pay like the

mortgage um the gas electric that's

about it but we're feeding people that's

that's the way I look at it people are

coming in and they getting warm

meals yet cheap takeaways alone aren't

going to solve the issues facing Grimsby

while the cost of living crisis has

exacerbated things the challenges for

the town are deeep rooted are the needs

here yeah greater than anywhere else in

the country when it comes to Citizen

advice they they Echo them they

it I think that's space isn't it yeah

got to be yeah Tony gasin runs citizens

advice for Northeast Lincolnshire and

says more people are using his service

than ever before the last three years

we've seen something like a 300%

increase in emergency uh charitable

support such as food bank applications

Fuel and energy vouchers uh people

needing help with homelessness so around

about 300% is is is is a massive figure

but it's and it's really worrying we''re

seeing an even bigger percentage

increase for personal Independence

payment and and and around about a 200%

increase in council tax areas and

worryingly about another 220% on on uh

energy

debts what is it that drives places like

East Marsh West Marsh to be so poor

compared to other parts of the country I

think we're looking at a number of facts

we're looking at but people have U uh

are in part-time employment people in

long-term uh unemployment people with

high high percentages in Eastern and

West Marsh with people with long-term

disabilities and struggle to get to find

work where they do find work then the

limited by the number of hours that they

work uh people got struggling with with

fuel costs because uh 19 pre1 1919

properties that are difficult to heat

difficult to insulate so there's a raft

of problems but there's also a really

engaged um infrastructure trying to

bring people out of poverty in Northeast

Lincolnshire and particularly in these

two Wards and the work that's going on

is remarkable uh but the the challenges

that individuals face is is huge so

what's the best solution well it depends

who you ask and some members of the

public have different ideas to The

Experts about what's causing these

issues I was talking to two young Lads

the other day and they was on about the

cost of living I said you should have

lived through the ages then you would

have known what the cost of living

was but it's a different Generation Now

is it they won't tolerate low wages and

bad work anybody could walk into a job

and now because of um how can I say this

family tax credit people realize they

don't have to work anymore so they don't

they take advantage of it a lot of

people won't work because the work and

the we often and and working so I know

people will say well that's a load of

rubbish but I spoke to people and says

well I'm not working the time I paid me

rent paid me council tax there's no paid

me gas electri no to get food in if you

look at the at the figures there has

been no inflationary increase to

benefits for 10 years other than the one

last year and in real terms people on

benefits now at about 25% worse off than

they were in 2010 with a cost of living

increas as it hits then that just

exacerbates that problem and makes it

more severe and makes it more difficult

to manage and in the interim in the

short ter term increasing benefits by

the rate of inflation is the right thing

to do but with a quarter of people in

the area clas as economically inactive

as of March

2023 how did this once prosperous Town

find itself in this

situation grimsby's fishing Heritage

stretches back over a thousand years and

by the mid 20th century it had reached

its peak when over 500 trollers a day

would leave these Shores in search of a

catch then

the Cod wars happened it seems that the

countries that are bearing us from the

fishing grounds which have traditionally

been ours are standing back now and

taking americ laughing at us between

1950 and 1976 the Cod wars were a series

of disputes between Britain and Iceland

which changed Grimsby and British

fishing forever UK vessels had been

fishing in Icelandic Waters since the 14

Century but after the tiny country

gained independence from Denmark things

changed

Iceland expanded the area other

countries could fish from its Coastline

from four nautical miles to an area

eventually 50 times that size while the

industry was already in Retreat these

moves along with a decline in COD

population decimated British fishing and

the eu's common Fisheries policy in 1983

which brought in additional restrictions

and quote as became the final nail in

the coffin thousands of British

fishermen lost their jobs as a result

but had to wait until the year 2000

before the government paid out any

compensation for the pain

caused at Grimsby fishing Heritage

Center retired trollman still get

together once a week to share stories

about how they risk their lives to put

fish on British plates the young ones of

today are struggling because there isn't

the work for them anymore 85 to

90% of people in Grimsby had something

to do with the fishing industry and it h

everybody hard and I think that's why

we're like that now in Grimsby we were

over fishing if you saw a farmer go

around shooting his cattle when any

young say what's happened this bloody

lunatic and we were catching fish with a

rose and uh Rose and it's breaking my

heart in the sping season because the sh

fish came on the shs and I thought why

don't we

stop and the end was fish let's fish

let's fish let's fish it used to be

great Grimsby when fishing was going I

had two families I had a family at Sea

and I had a family at home Grimsby to me

has gone

downhill these days there's barely any

homegrown trollers left in grimsby's

iconic Docks but that doesn't mean the

industry is dead produced from Scotland

Iceland the Pharaoh and Norway is sold

and processed here instead before being

shipped around the

UK and at the crack of dawn we get a

glimpse of what grimsby's fishing

Heritage looks like in the 21st

century morning morning right the

straight in then jents again then 275 80

270 a kilo 270 here at the Grooms be

fish Market Traders say they used to

shift about 7,000 boxes a day now

they're lucky if they hit 7,000 a week

despite the change in fishing fortunes

the market CEO Martin boes takes a more

philosophical View and it's far more

upbeat than most when it comes to

grimsby's Future the industry is is

quite complex and what we've managed to

do in Grimsby is to be able to diversify

so as you've seen today with some of

these vessels we're not just a fishing

port anymore we're also an offshore Wind

Farm Port so what's called an operations

and maintenance port and that

diversification has allowed us to

continue with the Grimsby Fish Market

even at that smaller level as you

rightly point out but like a lot of

things it's it's not like it used to be

but it's still here we're still busy

people still eat fish it's a good

protein uh and there's still a good

demand for it what does the future look

like are you hopeful that things will

get better for Grimsby I think it's a

great opportunity and what we've got to

do is actually get that message over to

the young people in particularly in a

place like Grimsby that there's a lot of

jobs available in fish processing it's

not about going to see people just us

think you know if you didn't do any good

at school you can always go to see that

was all right in the 1960s but that's

gone but it wasn't supposed to be like

this 70% of people in Grimsby voted to

leave the EU in 2016 and it was hoped

that brexit would help change the future

of Britain's fishermen it's an

opportunity here to look at one of the

ways in which this country will be able

to take back control of a massive

industry our Coastal Waters go out 200

Mi and there's a potential to do really

well for for UK fishing Martin says it

hasn't quite worked out that way but he

doesn't regret his vote to leave the EU

it was never as simple uh toward us in

the industry certainly to me as it was

portrayed to the Great British public

and one of the things you find about the

fish industry is that when it's when

it's the election is that economically

in terms of GDP it's very very small but

in terms of emotion it's very very high

so I just thought it was a bit of a

bandwagon and bit of a cheap trick

actually back in London we caught up

with the conservative MP for Greg

Grimsby Leon Nichi she's positive the

town is far better off outside the EU

and that any damage had already been

done well let's be clear 70% of people

in Grimsby wanted brexit you know

undoubtedly we're a brexit town and

people wanted to be free of the EU but

people didn't make that decision based

on business they based that on wanting

to be sovereign country you know when I

talk to people about that that's

undoubtedly they say yes we know that

there are going to be pros and cons with

being part of the EU or not being part

of the EU now there's this big misnomer

of people who don't come from Grimsby

that think that we've got some amazing

fishing industry and that brexit has

been terrible for us well let me tell

you the fishing industry died the day

that we joined the common market what do

you do to try to stem the losses that we

hear about from Business Leaders in

grimby who said before the vote before

Britain left the European Union it was

so much easier to do business and

actually it was easier to generate

profits for Grimsby I've worked hard to

make sure that people can see a

different kind of MP I've been out there

I've been working with people on

practical projects helping to them to

succeed in areas you know East Marsh has

been one of the poorest areas in the UK

for five decades or more um it's not

something that's going to be fixed

quickly all I can say is I'm working

hard making sure I can do the best that

I can to to really be noisy for Grimsby

and I have been I've been at the center

of government making sure Grimsby is

being

represented great Grimsby had been a

labor seat in every election since 1945

making up part of the so-called red wall

that crumbled to the Tories in

2019 those we spoke to weren't

completely sold on their relatively new

MP but with a general election just

around the corner there wasn't much

appetite for labor either the uh local

area MP have you seen much of her never

see

her can't remember what her name is

what's her name now Leah oh yeah Leah

nicker never ever see her have you ever

seen your local area MP no and what do

you think of your local area MP

uh I can't give an

opinion for somebody I don't know I I

won't be voting because it to me it

don't matter who you vote or they're all

as

bad the Unseen I'm sorry I try not to be

political but I call her the Unseen MP

um never see her Jane hilden King was

once mayor of Northeast Lincolnshire and

now works for the fisherman's Mission

giving support to retired workers and

their families she was born in the East

Marsh and has a much better

understanding than many about how grimby

found itself in this situation we have

thriving docks we had numerous companies

from fish fingers birai Rosses uh

finders we had the Humber bank with all

this employment look around today no

food factories or very few if they are

the very small uh we've lost basically

all the oil Industries and the big

industries from the Humber bank and I

think generally the poverty is because

no jobs and we are suffering in this

area through lack of employment so

therefore because of employment what

jobs are around are very low paid and of

course our people are suffering really

badly and I don't think people grasp it

I don't think government grasp it we put

the comments of people in the town to

Leon Nichi who told us it is impossible

for me to meet all 88,000 residents who

live in the constituency I live in

Grimsby I have spent most of my life

working in and around grimby I meet

constituents in the town every week and

work hard to represent them and will

continue to do

so it's fair to say that towns like

Grimsby sometimes come with an unwanted

reputation po industrial decline is a

story heard up and down the country and

walking around the town it's hard not to

notice the deprivation on display but

there's more to a place than just its

High Street and Grimsby has a proud

Community for 18 years Entertainer Andy

car had a unique insight into his

hometown and what makes its people tick

he was the original Mighty Mariner

Grimsby toown football club's official

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mascot every week he saw thousands of

fans make their way here to cheer on

their team and their town and he's

passionate in his love for Grimsby and

doesn't understand why it comes with

such a reputation it annoys me because I

wouldn't you know I'm I'm I'm a homie I

I love living in the area in Grimsby

cletos my family are the same there's a

lot of areas there's more areas than bad

areas for me in Grimsby and cops but

it's just a shame that once again

Grimsby cops is being tired with the

negative brush when actually there's a

lot more positive to come out the area

and and the people the people in Grimsby

and clops you know there's a lot of good

people yeah we've got some bad you know

there's you know some undesirable as you

get again in all towns and cities I just

uh I just wish that um I just wish that

the positives for the area outweigh the

negatives which I actually think they do

how do you feel then when you hear about

those statistics from the on it's one

area we're talking about one area of

gomby cops I haven't to be fair seen the

statistics of what the other areas are

but what about all the other areas in

Grimsby cops um you know that are

probably nowhere near the bottom you

know they've obviously singled it out

it's good in one sense that it's been

singled out because maybe they can do

something about that area but I

personally would never move away from

grimby cops I love living it you know

love living down here and uh the fact

that I'm a big Grimsby Town fan I

couldn't I couldn't move away and not

come to the

games but as crowds leave this Stadium

every other weekend and head home what

sort of situation are they returning to

in some ways it feels like grimby has

been left behind depending on who who

you ask it could be in for a bright

future one thing feels certain though

that the last couple of years have not

helped the situation and if UK living

standards don't improve fast it could be

the difference between grimsby's

Resurgence or further decline they're

not bothered about us down here and

that's been like it for years but you

can see it's just rough as rubbish

everywhere there's a lot being done uh

and whether or not it's enough that's

debatable whether or not it's it's too

late I doubt it I think that that that

we've got time to try and turn things

around a lot more could be done in this

area cuz I know I'm not the only house

with M mold or mice either so a lot more

could be done to to help government

needs to massively step up they need to

realize how bad situations are I mean

I've seen it foremost mean Co it it it's

it's difficult government to to Really

step up big

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