Rows making waves across the Humber: Clash of Hull and Grimsby councillors reveals simmering cross-estuary tensions
COLIN Inglis and Chris Shaw have more than membership of the Labour Party in common.
For the two councillors are probably the most outspoken politicians on either side of the Humber.
Their clash over the current state of political relations between Hull and Grimsby has finally brought simmering cross-estuary tensions into the public domain after months of behind-the-scenes tensions.
Rows over the Humber Bridge debt liability, the make-up of the new police and crime panel and the contents of the City Deal bid – which would see more powers and funding devolved from Whitehall to local decision-makers – have mostly rumbled on behind closed doors.
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Today city council leader Councillor Steve Brady tried to diplomatically paper over the cracks.
However, he pointedly stopped short of giving a favourable mention to North East Lincolnshire Council, where Cllr Shaw is currently his counterpart.
He said: "When we got elected one of the first priorities was to get a cross-Humber deal on the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
"Whether it was the right or wrong thing to didn't matter because the Government had made it clear that was the only game in town they were going to accept.
"It's important to keep building relations with the other local authorities and the City Deal is part of that.
"It's a Hull and Humber bid and the minister has indicated to us he is minded to approve it from that perspective.
"You have to accept that in an area like the Humber with different councils and different politicians from different parties you are always going to have some disagreements and some problems to overcome.
"However, I have to say my relations with the Conservatives in North Lincolnshire and the Conservatives in the East Riding have been exceptionally good, apart from the odd little thing here or there."
Asked if he felt the same about Labour-led North East Lincolnshire Council, he said: "I think Grimsby is probably more on the outer edge of the Humber region and maybe feels it has more in common with Lincolnshire Council."
Cllr Brady said he was not prepared to comment directly about Cllr Shaw.
"I am not getting into personality politics. It's not helpful," he said.
"The one thing the public do not like is politicians having a go at each other like this, especially when they have much more important things to worry about such as unemployment.
"I want to work hard to build bridges, not destroy them."
Hull West and Hessle MP Alan Johnson said the key to the success of the City Deal was all four local authorities working together with the good of the wider Humber sub-region.
He said: "I am aware there have been one of two sticking points but we have got to ensure we get this because without it cities like Hull will be even further behind the likes of Leeds and Sheffield in terms of regeneration and funding opportunities."
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