OPINION
I spent time with Richard Tice in his constituency (Image: Paul Marriott)
Looking up at the departure board at London King's Cross, I was seething. My LNER train to Peterborough, whereupon I would get a train to Sleaford, and then Skegness, was delayed. I sighed as a camera flashed intermittently to my left, taking photos of excited Asian tourists at Platform 9？. By the time my service eventually pulled away, I was well and truly behind schedule. After arriving in Skegness, I spotted Richard Tice MP waltzing down the high street - a man in his element.
Gripping me firmly by the hand, he said: “Better late than never!” I replied: “If you lot do ever manage to get into government, you need to sort out those trains.” The Brexit backer, who switched his allegiance from the Tories to Nigel Farage, was clad in a navy suit and pink tie. On his lapel was pinned a customary Union Flag badge. He was tall, though not as tall as me. Not many are, owing to my being six foot four.
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Richard Tice spoke with his constituents during the walkaround, including business owner Diane Wainwright (Image: Paul Marriott)
We had around two hours with Reform UK’s deputy leader, which included stopping for a coffee and piece of cake. During that time, I hoped to delve into his personal views, as well as the party’s strategy.
But I learned perhaps the most important thing more or less straight away, noticing the property man from Farnham in Surrey had a certain gravitas, and an ability to connect with his constituents.
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He knew this, at one point telling me: “People recognise me, they see me around. I’m putting Boston and Skegness back on the map.”
Skegness is a relatively deprived area of the UK. But a steady flow of locals stopped and eagerly shook the hand of the privately educated millionaire. I had headed to our meeting expecting maybe a few to stop him, as Farage’s first mate seems to have been somewhat overshadowed by his captain and Ashfield firebrand Lee Anderson.
During these encounters, Tice showed a genuine rapport with residents, who displayed a dislike for Sir Keir Starmer and Labour’s policies.
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Skegness was in its element on a sunny day (Image: Paul Marriott)
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Next to Skegness’ clock tower, a constituent, who moved to the area from Wales 25 years ago, struck up a conversation with the MP. He said, a native twang very much still evident: “You’ve got to kick Starmer out quickly.”
The man added: “He’s doing so much damage, isn’t he, Starmer? Tax, tax, tax. The big thing, taking money off the pensioners. Absolutely appalling.”
Diane Wainwright, the owner of a fabric business for 25 years, also stopped to say hello, and expressed concern about Labour's planned increase to employers' National Insurance contributions.
I would not be surprised in the slightest if Tice's 2,010 majority increased at the next election.
Tice told me that Reform will overturn Starmer’s huge majority at the next general election, winning “all over the country, in huge numbers”.
I can definitely see Farage’s outfit improving on their current total of five MPs next time out, doing well especially in relatively less well-off places like Skegness.
And my time with Tice has only reinforced this view. Some voters see Reform as their only option.
As the walkabout drew to an end, we were approached by Jamie Hallam, 34, a parts manager from Lee Anderson’s Nottinghamshire patch, who was visiting Skegness for the weekend with his dad.
We dropped into the Indulgence cafe (Image: Paul Marriott)
He said he and his partner, a Polish NHS worker, are keen on Reform UK’s plans for the service and to “deter people from entering the country illegally”.
Jamie added: “Just put us first, for once – look after normal working class people. Labour just seem to have shafted us in the worst case possible. And Reform, at the minute, seem like they’re the only people that can change everything that’s happened.”
Nevertheless, despite the warm support I saw first person for the relatively new party and its MP in Skegness, I believe winning the next election is still out of Reform's reach.
Another crucial lesson I learned was about the Lincolnshire resort itself.
Many relish looking down their noses on Skegness, some even comparing it to places like North Korea and Syria.
In fact, even on my train ride there, a middle-aged couple reacted to an announcement advising of our destination with mock excitement.
I have to admit, even I was expecting things to be rather drab and empty - as is sadly the case with many of the UK’s towns nowadays.
But my first visit to the resort happened to be on the first of meteorological spring. And 'Skeggy' was in its element, its seafront and streets gripped by a bustling atmosphere as people enjoyed some glorious, long-absent, sunshine.
Jamie Hallam saw Reform's deputy leader and said: 'Oh my God, that's Richard Tice' (Image: Paul Marriott)
Skegness was in its element on a sunny day (Image: Paul Marriott)
Vibrant shops were vending everything you would expect to see in a British resort - fudge, ice cream, sticks of rock and candy floss.
Visitors and locals sit outside cafes, and families walk past with their dogs and youngsters in pushchairs.
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In his cafe, Indulgence, I spoke with local business owner Danny Brookes, who expressed worry about the effect of the Chancellor’s tax stance on the area’s economy.
His dedication to Skegness and concern for the community reminded me that towns like these can always thrive if they are provided with the right conditions.
Adam Toms is a senior news reporter at the Daily Express.