Prime Minister Boris Johnson began the most important week of his political career on Grimsby Fish Market. Business Live's David Laister was there to see the Conservative campaign hit top gear.
Fish and babies - if politicians are holding either, then you know there’s an election.
One merchant’s observation was a wise one, but the serving Prime Minister certainly struck a chord with his early morning appearance at Grimsby Fish Market.
This wasn’t a two-minute flying visit, he spent a full hour on the auction hall floor, and almost the same again with various media commitments.
Grimsby is once again seen as a key seat, a marginal that could be the making of a majority.
It brought David Cameron here in 2010, hours before the polls opened, and now we’ve had Boris Johnson as the biggest week in his political career dawned.
Many couldn’t resist the comparison, and while you’d think two old Etonians would be as far removed from this early morning delight on the senses as you could get, the latest visitor did what he does best, and worked the room – chilled only in temperature – like he would any other.
Nine years ago, those there talked of a scripted, orchestrated appearance for an audience with Mr Cameron.
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This time out, there was no division, no ‘him and us’ for those on the market. He was there, rubbing shoulders, cheek by jowl as the auction got underway under the national spotlight – to the biggest single cheer.
‘Get business done’ was the overriding priority, but Mr Johnson’s ‘Get Brexit Done’ mantra clearly resonates with the scores of merchants he pressed the flesh with and had the flash pressed on. Not so much ‘Call me Dave,’ more ‘call me over’. He was beckoned and back-patted, interrupted and indulged, and he took it all on without a flinch or a hiccup.
He had time for all, listened, asked and observed, wound his way around the fish boxes, playing for the cameras where required, but for far more time taking it in, the mood, the atmosphere, and he’ll have been heartened by it.
This is, however, a microcosm of public feeling. It may not be a Westminster bubble, but bubble it is. Passionate, opinionated entrepreneurs, earning well and striving. Pressed by time, acutely aware of the need to make a good deal, competitive and clamouring for the top spot. Mr Johnson was on familiar turf.
On Grimsby Docks the clock has ticked long enough for remainers and leavers alike, they want action, and Mr Johnson appears as their selected best option. Whether there’s the same sentiment off the port estate will be tested in the usual manner come Thursday.
What people take from a leader will matter too. Does your voter put everything on how they handle (or don’t) an on-the-spot interview? Or will the charisma and personality – tools used far more frequently, just not seen on the 10pm news – rise up the rankings?
Sweeping up to the market entrance in a four-vehicle cavalcade, familiarity was there with Martin Vickers – no doubt the result of the long deep dives into the Suggitts Lane Crossing issue – while introduction was required for the Grimsby candidate, Lia Nici. Careful to check pronunciation on their meeting, and given a brief insight into her Italian ancestry, he swapped his polished black shoes for white wellies, coat and hat, and was quickly on the market hall floor, by her side.
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While it was all about him, he was desperate to make it not so, pushing forward and introducing Ms Nici at every opportunity.
In this final week it has become crystal clear that this is a campaign of contrasts between the front two for the Grimsby seat. Labour’s Melanie Onn, who backed Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal last term – seems to feel best-served beating the election path on her own, as the candidate who has worked for Grimsby, rather than the Labour ticket with the big visits.
I feel Jeremy Corbyn’s sit-on-the-fence approach to Brexit would not have played well should he have been here instead, with one merchant reflecting how his welcome would have been somewhat different. And against a morning back drop of the blustery market and hard graft, with fish blood, sweat and a look forward to hard-earned Christmas beers, the pink bus of Harriet Harman and painted nails of Eddie Izzard may now be seen as a high-risk strategy too. So we have Ms Onn putting her faith in her four year CV, in which time she’s increased the Labour vote by 62 per cent.
For Grimsby to turn blue for the first time since Winston Churchill’s wartime coalition, the big guns have been out. Whether they’ve fired to hire, or miss again, will be revealed very soon.
Also standing in Grimsby are: Ian Barfield (Lib Dem), Chris Barker (Brexit Party), Loyd Emmerson (Green Party) and Nigel Winn (Independent).
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