By By Chris Osbourne
With only a few days to go we look at the chances of Conservative Party Lia Nici.
CONSERVATIVES SEEK HISTORIC VICTORY IN GRIMSBY
If the polls are to believed then Grimsby woman Lia Nici is set to become the first Conservative MP for Grimsby since Kenneth Younger in 1945. Victory for Nici would represent a sea change in the political scene in Grimsby. Faced with an opponent in Labour’s Melanie Onn, Nici’s selection mirrors the Labour candidate in many ways. She is a local woman who both lives and works in Grimsby. A fierce advocate for the town she is currently a serving councillor for the Scartho ward.
Grimsby is a major target for the Tories this time around and their sights are set on a historic win. NE Lincs recently elected a Conservative led council for the first time ever and the steady increase in voting figures over the last few years would suggest that Grimsby’s political landscape is changing. In the last election Tory candidate Jo Gideon polled over 14,000 votes, a number the Tories hadn’t got anywhere near since Philip Jackson’s 19,000 plus back in 1992. The Tories have set out their stall and in Nici they have a candidate who is no stranger to campaigning. She polled over 9000 votes when finishing a distant second to Labour’s Diana Johnson in Hull North in 2017. She increased the Tory vote in that campaign and was awared the candidature for Grimsby. Nici seemingly has everything in her favour going into Thursday’s voting. The polls are predicting a historic victory, she has been showered with Conservative notables accompanying her on the campaign trail. Everything it seems points to a conservative win but one or two clouds have gathered on the Tory horizon. Like her opponent Melanie Onn she is hampered with a leader who is proving increasingly unpopular. Johnson’s performance or lack of it in Andrew Neil’s case have seen the polls close to 6%. At a gap of 7% or less the pollsters themselves claim their accuracy is somewhat blurred. The Brexit Party have ridden into Town with the intention of preventing a Labour win, but they could be equally appealing to Tory voters disenchanted with Johnson’s dire showing. All of which points to the contest being a lot closer than initially thought.
Nici is a Grimsby woman with deep affection for the town. She has often professed to want the best for the town, but her campaign has so far remained well within the lines of the central party manifesto. This love of Grimsby could be her biggest asset yet in her battle to take the seat, but she must get her message out. Like many candidates of all hues her chances have been beset with a highly publicised ‘ election faux pas’. During a debate on Radio Humberside she was heard to criticise the people of Grimsby for voting in an MP (Onn) who voted remain, while Nici herself voted to remain. Although she has been at pains to explain what she actually meant, her opponents have seized on it and are broadcasting it widely. In most elections this could have proved a gaffe too far and severely damaged her chances. As this election seems to have changed very few people’s minds, she may well emerge unscathed.
In conclusion if the result of the election is still undecided Lia could increase her chances of success by putting Grimsby and her aspirations for the town to the fore. It’s not enough to urge people to vote for her by criticising Labour. She has been criticised for refusing to engage with the public of Grimsby, and along with the perceived criticism of them. If she spends the remaining few days and engaging with people. The sprint for the finishing line is firmly on, and with a last push may well find herself with a remarkable victory on her hands. If she doesn’t then come Friday morning it amy well be a case of back to the drawing board.
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