Political round-up: On the general election campaign trail in Lincoln

MP for Great Grimsby Lia Nici has voiced her backing to the Prime Minister, despite growing pressure and calls for him to resign, saying he was “badly advised” over the attending of lockdown parties at Downing Street.

The Prime Minister is under intense pressure, after discoveries of the government appearing to breach their own lockdown rules by hosting “bring-your-own-booze” parties at 10 Downing Street, while national COVID-19 restrictions were in place.

Boris Johnson admitted he had attended the party in the gardens of Downing Street on May 20, 2020, but still reiterated that it was a “work event” and insisted that people should not speculate while Sue Gray’s investigation is still ongoing.

Despite this, Northern Lincolnshire MPs are still showing their backing to Boris Johnson after he was forced into an apology during Prime Minister’s Questions last week.

Grimsby MP Lia Nici (Conservative)

Lia Nici is one of the Conservative MPs to profit from the Boris Johnson-led 2019 general election, where a number of ‘red wall’ seats, including Great Grimsby, moved over to Conservative power after decades of being a Labour stronghold.

There is unrest within the public, and one Skegness woman has set up a petition to ‘bring the Downing Street party-goers to justice’. It now has almost 90,000 signatures.

The Great Grimsby MP told ITV Calendar on Monday that Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a “great visionary leader” and she believes that the PM needs better people around him rather than the blame being placed on Mr Johnson’s door.

“Obviously people are upset and disappointed that the PM was at that event, but I wholeheartedly defend him. I think he was very badly advised, clearly afterwards it came out that it looks like it’s been a party, when actually the PM wasn’t aware of that, and he thought people were working outside.

“I think the Prime Minister is a great visionary leader but what he needs is people who are properly line managing what’s going on day-to-day.

“What we’ve got to remember with the Prime Minister is that he is a renegade, he is somebody who will push through and make changes, and quite often the establishment doesn’t like that.

“I am there behind him to make sure the establishment changes and it changes for the better in places like Great Grimsby.”

As well as Lia Nici, Lincoln MP Karl McCartney has gone on record to back the Prime Minister, while also stating that he was not at any lockdown parties at Downing Street.

A Lincolnshire council’s hopes to extend the caravan season through the winter have been washed out with the tide following a ministerial decision.

Minister of State for Housing Michael Gove ruled against East Lindsey District Council’s applications for Hill View Caravan Park in Hogsthorpe and Skegness Water Leisure Park on Monday and said he is “minded to refuse” Willow Tree Farm in Sutton on Sea.

A statement on the government’s website said all the applications fell within a “high risk area” of the Coastal Zone and that the flooding dangers associated with the site would be “unacceptable” and that the proposals would be “contrary” to the development plan as a whole.

However, it accepted that there was some weight in favour due to the benefits to the economy, tourism, community facility and biodiversity.

Following the decision Portfolio Holder for Planning at ELDC, Councillor Tom Ashton, said the council had “sought to actively and positively respond to requests from businesses” to enable a longer season, encourage year round economic activity, and take a “balanced approach” to coastal flood risk.

He said the authority would be reviewing the contents of the decision, adding that it “remains committed to both supporting and protecting the residents and businesses within the coastal areas”.

“We will continue to work collaboratively with a wide range of partners, to help drive investment in our coastal communities to improve the visitor offer and create sustainable employment that enables our residents to live a better quality of life and our businesses to be more successful.

“The safety of our residents and visitors, of course, remains of paramount importance to us and in dealing with these applications this was at the forefront of our minds.”

Lincolnshire County Council, the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum and the Environment Agency were among those who had concerns over the plans.

Councillor Martin Hill, leader of LCC, said the authority was “pleased” by the decision, which acknowledged “the risk and consequence of coastal flooding”.

“We’re clear… that there are ways to help coastal areas thrive with the right investment and visitor attractions year-round. However, this has to be done with the safety and best interests of residents as a priority,” he said.

“The applications would have presented a risk to life if progressed.

“Emergency services are under extreme pressure when flooding occurs, and it would be irresponsible to encourage additional people to live in caravans during the winter storm season, both for their own welfare and the welfare of existing residents.”

He said ELDC had been “fundamentally wrong” for not consulting partners or residents about its plans, especially as a “member of the partnership charged with long term coastal management”.

“Hopefully these refusals send a strong message that this is not a course of action that is safe or desirable to pursue.”

The decision on Willow Tree Farm will allow parties to comment on legal technicalities.

ELDC can appeal the decision within six weeks of the letter date by making an application to the High Court.

A serial sexual predator has been jailed for 16 years after being found guilty of a string of offences at Grimsby Crown Court on Friday 14 January 2022.

Jamie Sayer (33) of Albert Avenue, Hull, denied nine offences, including four charges of rape and three of engaging in sexual activity with a child. However, a jury found Sayer guilty of all offences.

The court heard how Sayer had preyed on his young victim for a period of five years and had used a “powerful threat” to keep his victim quiet for years.

DC Amy Nicholas, from our Protecting Vulnerable People unit, led the investigation: “I would like to applaud Jamie Sayer’s victim, who has been incredibly brave throughout this whole ordeal. I know how difficult it has been to come forward and to speak about what had happened, so the fact they did this is a testament to them and their strength.

“I understand that for victims of sexual abuse, no matter the outcome, something like this will always live with them. However, I do hope now the investigation has drawn to a close and Jamie Sayer is behind bars, they feel some sort of closure.

“This was a horrendous catalogue of abuse over a five-year period, when the victim should have been enjoying their childhood. However, Sayer subjected them to a campaign of abuse and used threats against the victim to ensure his terrible crimes wouldn’t come to light.

“Manipulation and threats are not uncommon with offences of this nature, so I would strongly appeal for any child who believes they are being manipulated into doing something they don’t want to, to speak with an adult or friend and report it to us.

“It is never the victim’s fault, and we will always take reports of this nature incredibly seriously to identify those that pose a danger to children. You will be listened to and we will continue to take action against offenders.

“We hugely appreciate the strength and courage of the victim in telling us about these offences and helping us throughout the course of the judicial process.”

About the abuse inflicted by Jamie Sayer, Judge Michael Fanning said the victim “didn’t know what you were making them do, but they soon concluded that it was something they didn’t want to do.

“You did it because you could. You made their childhood a misery.”

In addition to being jailed for 16 years, Sayer was given a sexual harm prevention order for life. He must register as a sex offender for life and was given an indefinite restraining order.

If you want to report offences to us, you can call us on 101, or always call 999 in an emergency.