Grimsby residents blame the EU for the loss of their fishing fleet and the town's decline. Their vote to leave was a vote against the EU rather than a vote for sovereignty.
The irony of Brexit for Grimsby is that the fishing industry has since been replaced by a large seafood processing industry which imports 90% of the seafood it uses. Brexit will mean increased costs due to import duties and increased delays at the port due to customs - delays which would take the 'fresh' out of 'fresh fish'.
It is possible that some residents did really believe the Leave campaign's claims that everything would be the same only better, but it is likely that they would have voted to leave no matter what. Many Leavers are willing to pay a high price if it guarantees Brexit.
It is hardly a surprise, on the other hand, that local industry leaders would prefer Remain and if they can't have it then they will certainly ask for any special treatment they can get.
So a majority voted Leave and the minority are asking not to be punished for a choice they didn't make. However, this isn't a non-story, this goes to the heart of Brexit. Those who are doing well out of the EU want to stay in while the 'left behind' want to leave. The Leave vote was a vote to reject globalisation. The irony is - so was Remain.
Exiting the EU will expose us to harsher global forces than those that assail us right now. Within the EU bloc we are competing with nations with similar standards, similar social systems, similar costs. If we end up trading on WTO terms, as the lead Brexiteers want, then we will be up against poorer countries, countries with lower costs, lower standards and higher productivity.
Brexit or not, we need to ensure we keep our preferential trade deal with Europe.
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