Target Towns: 'Distant cousin' of Jacob Rees-Mogg says she 'wants the Tories out'
Cleethorpes residents shared their views on the July election. One woman said she is a distant cousin of Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, but said "I don't speak to him".
Thursday 23 May 2024 22:56, UK
There's a striking new mural in Cleethorpes on the side of the Old Vic pub.
Almost everyone likes the huge ice cream cones and blue skies illustration of their famous beach.
To gauge how voters are feeling now they know it's a summer general election, we bought a sofa, put it in the pub car park, and invited people to have a chat.
The guy who delivered it for us was 53-year-old Rob Howden, who runs a van delivery business around Grimsby and Cleethorpes.
"I think Conservatives will do it again," he said.
"It's the economy, it's settling itself down now, I think.
"Let's have another election. I think they will feel confident enough they will do it again."
Rob was surprised by the PM's decision to call a snap election, but said he just couldn't believe Labour would do a better job.
"They always spend too much money, don't they - I just don't buy that they've changed," he said.
As we chatted to Rob, a lady walked over and listened in.
She quickly piped up when she heard him saying he'd stick with the Tories.
Read more:
General election latest: Sunak's announcement gets brutal assessment
Sky News reveals election coverage plans
"At the end of the day what have they done?" she asked bluntly.
"They are all for the rich and the poor are still poor - the Conservatives need to get out!"
The lady was Mandy Roberts, a retired supermarket worker from Cleethorpes, who was fizzing with anger over the state of the country.
"Look at pensioners using food banks in poverty," she said.
"People are really struggling... the world is going mad."
In a surprising move, Mandy then told us she is a distant cousin of Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
"[He's] my mum's brother's cousin," she said.
"No, I don't speak to him," she laughed, before adding: "People don't like him either do they?"
Next, 38-year-old railway worker Emmanuel Ehiorobo sat down and told us he too was ready for a change.
"Number one issue is the cost of living, then also the issues with the NHS," he said.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Emmanuel said he recently waited four or five months for an appointment with a specialist doctor.
"I am ready for a change of government, a new government that can come up with new ideas and a new strategy."
We met many undecided voters too - there are plenty of people in both Grimsby and Cleethorpes waiting to make a judgement on what they hear and see before 4 July.