General Election 2019

The Conservative party gained both Scunthorpe and Great Grimsby at this year’s General Election.

Both seats were Labour strongholds for decades, with the latter being by the party for 74 years.

Now, the constituency’s are held by two female Tory MPs.

But, who are the newly elected Conservative representatives in northern Lincolnshire?

Holly Mumby-Croft, Scunthorpe

Holly Mumby-Croft currently sits on North Lincolnshire Council as a Tory councillor in Broughton.

She chairs the Health Scrutiny Panel for North Lincolnshire and last year oversaw the meeting which saw Thames Ambulance Service stripped of its non-emergency patient transport contract.

As well as sitting on the local authority, she has been a member of Broughton Town Council since 2010 and, according to Conservative Home, has campaigned against wind farm developments in the past.

Mrs Mumby-Croft, who also stood for MP unsuccessfully in 2017, put the steel industry and Brexit at the centre of her campaign this year.

She defeated Labour candidate Nic Dakin, who held the seat since 2010, by 6,451 votes.

Lia Nici, Great Grimsby

Lia Nici has spent most of her life in Grimsby and lives in Laceby with her son and husband.

She spent 20 years a college lecturer was also a former executive producer of local television channel Estuary TV, which closed down last August.

Mrs Nici spent many years on Laceby Parish Council before she stepped down in April last year over a dispute on how to use a £70,000 grant for solar energy.

She was elected as a Conservative councillor for Scartho ward to North East Lincolnshire Council at last year’s local elections.

Now, she has been elected as MP for Great Grimsby after defeating Labour candidate Melanie Onn with a majority of 7,331.

The constituency was a Labour stronghold for 74 years.

In her victory speech, she said it was “an honour” to represent the town and that it had “amazing potential”.

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As the 10pm exit poll predicted, the Conservatives would have 368 seats, up 50, and Labour would have 191, down 71 seats, the blue team in Lincolnshire must have been brimming in anticipation.

And as key opposition seats fell, including that of Lib Dem Leader Jo Swinson and Labour’s Dennis Skinner who was set to take on the role of Father of the House, the prediction fast became reality.

For those who wanted to knock the Conservatives off their perch in Yellowbelly Lincolnshire, it fast became clear this was not going to happen.

In fact, the party only strengthened their grip – instead taking out the pockets of Labour support and unifying Greater Lincolnshire under its colours.

Grimsby, a 74-year-Labour seat was one of those casualties, following the pattern set by the local elections earlier this year.

For what was such a strong base for Labour to have fallen, shows how much its connection with its communities has changed.

Nationally, members of the parties debated the reasons for the shift – blaming a lack of trust in Jeremy Corbyn, a desire to see Brexit done, the accusations of anti-semitism facing the party and more.

Birmingham MP Jess Phillips, known for being outspoken and sometimes touted as the next party leader, said she was “heartbroken” by the result.

But whatever the reason, with a majority in Parliament, Boris Johnson now has the capability to do what his party wants to do going forward without fear of being blocked at every hurdle.

He’ll also get some some reprieve as his enemies battle it out amongst themselves as to who becomes their next leader.

With the chances of another election taking place within the next five years looking slim, candidates and party representatives across the county will have plenty of time to lick their wounds and figure out what went wrong for them.

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Karen Lee’s reaction in the early hours of Friday morning painted a picture that could be replicated for Labour candidates across the country as the Conservatives swept to victory.

The party was hoping to keep its grip on Lincoln, a key marginal seat for any political colour.

But, it wasn’t to be, as Karl McCartney regained the seat he lost in 2017 with a 3,514 majority – the first time the margin has been above 1,600 votes in 14 years.

Labour is now left licking its wounds in Lincoln, but also across the country.

Jeremy Corbyn announced on Friday morning that he will not lead the party into the next election after recording Labour’s worst result since 1935.

The Tories broke through Labour’s “red wall” in the East Midlands, which has been the bedrock for the party.

As the exit poll came in and predicted a dismal night for Mr Corbyn, local councillors wearing red rosettes clung to hope that the prediction would not be as bad as it seemed.

But, Ms Lee was frank about the party’s performance and said it was “undoubtedly a bad night” for Labour.

She paid tribute to her team who “led a wonderful campaign”, but would not be drawn on the future of her party leader.

ALSO READ: Karl McCartney proud as Conservatives regain Lincoln

Labour is now left without a single seat across Lincolnshire.

For the Conservatives, the party can rejoice after winning back Lincoln, but also recording a clean sweep across the county.

The Tories now hold Scunthorpe, which local councillor Holly Mumby-Croft gained from Labour, and Great Grimsby which has been red for 74 years.

Conservative county councillor Richard Davies said the local party had focused on regaining Lincoln and put resources into making sure that was the case.

And the Tories’ campaign is there for all to see with numerous senior cabinet ministers making a trip to the city, such as Andrea Leadsom and Michael Gove.

Mr McCartney said he was “relieved” after a nervous night at Yarborough Leisure Centre.

He added that he wanted to replicate what he did as MP last time around when the voters of Lincoln put faith in him.

Whether or not that will be the case will be for the city to decide in five years time.

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