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

give us an idea of ​​how tough it is Well, seagulls have knives, it's that tough Queens has problems, everyone has problems Society like, um, no one could afford to feed themselves with government police cars on the streets , there was a murder at that end of the street a couple of years ago so it doesn't have the best reputation, they're getting things like Universal Credit and they're also getting the cost of living payment and they go out and spend it on, maybe, alcohol and substances. stabbing next door and in some doors I had an artist with Molotov cocktails Grimsby for hundreds of years this port

town

in North East Lincolnshire on the River Humber Esty punched well above its weight its fishing industry became known throughout the world 285 90 90 280 by keil and at one time the city became the largest and busiest fishing port on Earth, but after the industry began to decline, poverty came and, with the fish gone, the city changed with the loss of jobs, low wages and lack of infrastructure, today, the annual household average.

Incomes in the

town

's East Marsh are the lowest in England and Wales, making it the

poorest

part of the country. These flags represent our country in TAS. This is real Britain. It's a weekday morning at Grimsby's East Marsha estate, where residents start their day. In the

poorest

part of the nation, of course, that doesn't mean that everyone here

live

s on the poverty line, but the data is striking: the average annual income of an entire household here is only 22,000 a year, that's That is, more than $10,000 less than the UK's national income. average and almost a staggering 86,000 below the well-off area of ​​London, which has the highest in the country at

just

over £108,000.

It is in East Marsh where we meet Natalie, who

live

s in the center of the estate with her partner and her four children. She receives around £22,000. a month of benefits, but while she begins her shopping with Christmas on the way, she is struggling to make ends meet. I ad

just

well, especially this time of year. I adjust my budget. I will make sure of my bills and make my big purchase. then whatever is left, I obviously get some of my Christmas presents and my son's birthday present. Birthday stuff right now. I'm not one of those guys with lots and lots of money that you can spend it on every day and go and make big purchases.

I get quite a few benefits right now because I'm just one of the guys in Caris class because one of them is disabled so I start getting my Christmas gifts and I did my shopping online which is a lot cheaper than in stores and Natalie is not alone across the country, the cost of living has hit homes and families hard as the price of energy has increased by up to 60% in the last 2 years and those increases are acutely felt here . Cheryl, a single mother, lives on a property. That's covered in black mold and infested with mice, but turning up the heat on her means less money for her and her kids, it's very difficult.

I have like I said four kids and then I'm trying to stay on top of mold, mice and condensation. Windows because I have that and my bathroom windows too, so it's difficult. I have the heating on all day every day because obviously with condensation it means heat is escaping so my house is colder than it should be. It should be like this, I'm paying more for gas and electricity than I should per week just to keep the house warm to keep my kids warm. It's very tight, yeah, I mean, I make sure my kids always have what they need. but yeah, it can definitely be a struggle, it feels horrible, you know, I have the kids coming up to me, you know, we have to clean up the mold in the room again, mommy, or we just saw a mouse run across the floor.

Mummy you know it's not nice, stories like this are sadly

nothing

new for Grimsby and especially East Marsh, the area is the most deprived in the whole of North East Lincolnshire and almost all streets are in the top 1% of deprivation throughout the country. They are associated with higher levels of crime, antisocial behavior and homelessness, something visible across Grimby. I want a place to live. I want a place to go. I want to work, but it's difficult for me. How long have you been living on the streets? What's that? Damn, that's it. Really residents here are aware of the problems and sometimes help within the community can come from the most unlikely sources with the lowest incomes in the country.

Perhaps it's no surprise that the cheapest chippy in the country is here. East Marsh, where a portion of fish and chips with a side of peas will set you back just £3. Prices for fish and chips in the UK have fallen in recent years with the takeaway classic. Now costing customers £9 on average, but at Matthews chippy in East Marsha. Stanley Street owner Stan Matthews explains how he keeps his prices in Rock Bottom because I'm at the docks, we buy our own fish, we smoke, we have our own Smoke House, so everything lines up where we can get it.

The product is a little cheaper saying that they have gone up. We used to be £250, but because light gas has gone up, electricity has gone up, um, all commodities have gone up, so we have to R at P50, give or take. £3 you still get a good meal for £3 with prices like this and with a community in need it serves many punes every day who queue outside the door before it even opens some nights of the week and the product is well received . including By Me 3 fish and chips I mean, that's a bargain, right? It's great for us retirees, every penny counts, isn't that three quid?

You can't touch it. Can? I come here um oh every time for uh sheep fishing the portion you get is brilliant absolutely amazing it's good quality food you can't buy a burger for 3 there's not a lot of money in it we make enough just to pay like the mortgage, um, gas, electricity, that's all. but we are feeding people, that's how I see it, people come and get hot food, but cheap takeaways alone are not going to solve the problems Grimsby faces, while the cost of living crisis has exacerbated things, the challenges for the city are deeply rooted, the needs here, yes, they are greater than anywhere else in the country when it comes to citizen councils, they echo them, I think that's the space, right?

Yes, it has to be. Tony Gasin leads Citizens Councils for North East Lincolnshire and says more people are using their service than ever before In the last three years we have seen something like a 300% increase in emergency charitable support such as foodbank appeals . Fuel and energy vouchers, people needing homeless help, so around 300% is This is a huge figure, but it's really worrying: we're seeing an even bigger percentage increase for the personal independence payment and around a 200% increase in council tax areas and, worryingly, a further 220% in energy debts. What makes places like East Marsh West Marsh so poor compared to other parts of the country?

I think we're looking at a series of facts, but people have part-time jobs. in people with long-term unemployment with high percentages in Eastern and West Marsh with people with long-term disabilities and struggling to find work where they find work, then they are limited by the number of hours they work, people struggle with costs of fuel because uh 19 pre-1919 properties that are difficult to heat and difficult to insulate, so there are a number of problems, but there is also really compromised infrastructure trying to lift people out of poverty in north east Lincolnshire and particularly in these two districts and the The work that is being done is extraordinary, but the challenges that people face are enormous, so what is the best solution.

It depends on who you ask and some members of the public have different ideas than experts about what is causing these problems. I was talking to two. The other day, young guys, you talked about the cost of living. I said they should have lived through the centuries, then they would have known what the cost of living was, but it's a different generation. Now they will not tolerate low wages and bad work, anyone could get a job and now, thanks to this family tax credit, people realize that they do not have to work anymore, so they do not take advantage of it, many people do not want to work because work and the we often and working so I know people will say well that's a load of rubbish but I talked to people and I said well I'm not working at the time I paid rent they paid me the municipal tax, they didn't pay me for gas, electricity. not to receive food, if you look at the figures there has been no inflationary increase in benefits for 10 years apart from last year and in real terms people receiving benefits are now about 25% worse off than in 2010.

A cost of living increases as you get there, which simply exacerbates that problem and makes it more serious and more difficult to deal with, and in the meantime, in the short term, increasing benefits by the inflation rate is the right thing to do, but with With a quarter of people in the area classified as economically inactive as of March 2023, how did this once-prosperous city find itself in this situation? Grimsby's fishing heritage dates back over a thousand years and, by the mid-20th century, it had reached its peak when more than 500 fishermen would one day leave these shores in search of a catch then the cod wars occurred it seems the countries that are taking us out of the fishing grounds that have traditionally been ours are now turning back and taking America laughing at us between 1950 and 1976 the cod wars were a series of disputes between Britain and Iceland that changed Grimsby and British fishing forever .

UK ships had been fishing in Icelandic waters since the 14th century, but after the small country gained independence from Denmark, things changed. Iceland expanded the area that other countries could fish from its territory. The coastline from four nautical miles to an area eventually 50 times that size while the industry was already in retreat, these movements along with a decline in the COD population decimated British fishing and the EU's common fisheries policy in 1983, which brought restrictions and additional contributions as it became the final nail in the coffin, thousands of British fishermen lost their jobs as a result, but had to wait until 2000 before the government paid any compensation for the pain caused in the Centre. of Grimsby Fishing Heritage.

The retired troll still meets once a week to share stories. about how they risk their lives to put fish on British plates the young people of today are struggling because there is no work for them anymore 85 to 90% of the people in Grimsby had something to do with the fishing industry and it's hard for everyone and I think that's why we are like this now in Grimsby we were fishing if you saw a farmer go around shooting his cattle when any young man says what happened, this damn lunatic and we were fishing with a rose and uh Rose and it's breaking my heart in the season of spring because the fish came in the fish and I thought why don't we stop and the end was fishing, fishing, fishing, fishing, Grimsby used to be great when you went fishing.

He had two families. a family at sea and I had a family at home Grimsby for me has gone downhill these days, there are hardly any homegrown trollers left on the iconic Grimsby docks but that doesn't mean the industry is dead, produced in Scotland, Iceland , Pharaoh and Norway are sold and instead processed here before being shipped across the UK and, at dawn, we get a glimpse of what Grimsby's fishing heritage looks like in the 21st century. In the morning, in the morning, straight ahead, then it comes back in, then 275 80 270 a kilo 270 here in Grooms. Fish market traders say they used to move around 7,000 boxes a day, now they are lucky to reach 7,000 a week.

Despite the change in fishing fortunes, market managing director Martin Boes takes a more philosophical view and is much more optimistic than most when it comes to the future of Grimsby, the industry is quite complex and what we have managed to do in Grimsby is to be able to diversify, so that, as you have seen today with some of these vessels, we are no longer just a fishing port. also an offshore wind farm port, so what is 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 point out, but like many things , 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, eh, and there's still good demand, what will the future be like?Are you hopeful things will improve for Grimsby?

I think it's a great opportunity and what we need to do is get that message out to young people, especially in a place like Grimsby, that there are plenty of jobs available in fish processing. It's not about going to see people, we just think you know if you did it. It's no use at school, you can always go see that was cool in the 1960s, but it's over now, but it wasn't supposed to be like that. 70% of people in Grimsby voted to leave the EU in 2016 and it was hoped that Brexit would help change the future for British fishermen.

It's an opportunity here to discuss one of the ways this country will be able to regain control of a massive industry. Our coastal waters extend to 200 miles and there is potential to do really well. For UK fishing, Martin says things haven't worked out that way, but he has no regrets about voting to leave the EU. It was never as simple for us in the industry, certainly for me as it was presented to the British public. and one of the things that you find about the fishing industry is that when it's elections, economically in terms of GDP it is very, very small, but in terms of emotion it is very, very high, so I thought it was a bit of a bandwagon and a cheap trick.

In fact, in London we met with Conservative MP Greg Grimsby. Leon Nichi is sure that the city is much better off outside the EU and that any damage has already been done well. Let's be clear: 70% of people in Grimsby wanted Brexit. You know, certainly, we are a Brexit city and people wanted to break free from the EU, but people didn't make that decision based on business, but on wanting to be a sovereign country. When I talk to people about it, they certainly say yes, we know there will be pros and cons to being part of the EU or not being part of the EU now there is this big misconception of people who don't come from Grimsby who think we have a amazing fishing industry and that Brexit has been terrible for us, well let me tell you the fishing industry. died on the day we joined the common market, what is being done to try to stem the losses we heard from business leaders in Grimby, who said before the vote, before Britain left the European Union, it was much easier doing business and, in fact, it was easier to make profits for Grimsby.

I've worked hard to make sure people can see a different type of MP. I have been there. I have been working with people on practical projects helping them succeed in areas you know. Marsh has been one of the poorest areas of the UK for five decades or more. It is not something that is going to be solved quickly. All I can say is that I am working hard to make sure I can do the best I can to be really loud for Grimsby and I have been at the center of government, making sure Grimsby is represented.

Grimsby had been a Labor seat at every election since 1945 and was part of the so-called red wall that collapsed before the Conservatives in In 2019, those we spoke to were not entirely convinced by their relatively new MP, but with the general election looming around the corner there wasn't much appetite for labor either, the local area MP, have you seen much of her? You never see her, I can't. Remember what her name is, what's her name now Leah, oh yeah Leah Nicker, you've never seen her, have you ever seen the MP for your local area? No, and what do you think of your local area MP? uh, I can't give an opinion on someone who doesn't.

I don't know, I won't vote because to me it doesn't matter who you vote for or they are all as bad as the Invisibles. Sorry, I'm trying not to be political, but I call her the Invisible MP. I will never see her. Jane Hilden King is a former Mayor of North East Lincolnshire and now works for the Fishermen's Mission supporting retired workers and their families. She was born in East Marsh and she understands better than many how Grimby found itself in this situation in which we have prospered. docks we had numerous fish finger companies birai Rosses uh prospectors we had the Humber bank with all this employment look around today there are no food factories or very few if they are very small uh we have lost basically all the oil industries and the big oil industries Humber Bank and I think in general poverty is because there are no jobs and we are suffering in this area because of the lack of employment, therefore, because of employment, the jobs that exist are very poorly paid and of course , our people are suffering a lot and I don't think people understand it.

I don't think the government understands it. We passed on the comments from the people of the city to Leon Nichi, who told us that it is impossible for me to meet the 88,000 residents who live in the electoral district. I live in Grimsby. I spent most of my life working in and around Grimby. I meet with city constituents every week and work hard to represent them and will continue to do so. It's fair to say that towns like Grimsby sometimes have an unwelcome reputation. Industrial decline is a story. Heard across the country and walking around town, it's hard not to notice the deprivation on display, but there is more to a place than just High Street and Grimsby has had a proud community for 18 years.

Animator Andy Car had a unique vision of his hometown. and what motivates people about him, he was the original official mascot of the local Mighty Mariner Grimsby football club. Every week he saw thousands of fans come here to cheer on his team and his city and he is passionate about his love for Grimsby and he doesn't understand it. why does it have such a reputation it bothers me because you wouldn't know I am I am a friend I love living in the Grimsby area cletos my family is the same there are many areas there are more areas than bad areas for me in Grimsby and the police but it is a Shame that once again the Grimsby police are tired of the negative rub when in reality there is a lot more positive in the area and the people in Grimsby and clops, you know?

There are a lot of good people, yes, we have some bad ones, you know, there are some undesirables as you reappear in every town and city. I just, uh, I just wish that, um, I just wish that the positives for the area outweigh the negatives, that In fact, I think so, how do you feel when you hear about those statistics of an area, we're talking about an area of gomby cops? I don't have to be fair, I've seen the statistics for the other areas, but what about all the other areas in Grimsby Police, you know they're probably nowhere near the bottom, you know they've obviously flagged it, it's good in a way.

It makes sense that it was pointed out because maybe they can do something about that area, but I personally would do it. Never stay away from the shady cops. I love living it. You know, I love living here. And the fact that I'm a huge Grimsby Town fan. I couldn't, I couldn't walk away and not come to the games, but as the crowd leaves this. Stadium every other weekend and return home. What kind of situation are they returning to? In some ways it feels like Grimby has been left behind, depending on who you ask, it could have a bright future.

However, one thing is certain: the last two years have not helped the situation and if living standards in the UK do not improve quickly, it could be the difference between Grimsby's resurgence or further decline. They don't care about us down here and it's been that way for years, but you can see it's just tough. Like garbage everywhere, a lot of things are being done, eh, and whether it's enough or not, that's debatable. Whether it's too late or not. I doubt it. I think we have time to try to change things. A lot more could be done in this area because I know I'm not the only house with M mold or mice so a lot more could be done to help the government take a massive step forward they need to realize how bad the situations are .

I mean, I've seen it more than anything. I mean, it's hard for the government to really step up in a big way.