Chamber tributes to Great Grimsby MP ‘who spoke truth unto power without fear’

Legends together - Austin Mitchell and Anne Tate.

THE Hull & Humber Chamber of Commerce has paid its own tribute to former Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell who has died aged 86.

Austin was a larger than life character who represented the town from 1977 until he stood down from Parliament in 2015.

During his time as an MP he won respect from both sides of the House, campaigned hard for Grimsby’s fishing industry, even changing his name to Austin Haddock for National Seafood Week in 2002, and was an ardent Brexiteer.

The Chamber has a long association with Austin. Northern Lincolnshire Manager, Anne Tate, worked for him in Westminster for several years.

Anne said: “I started working with this legend in 1977, two days after he was injured in a serious car accident.

“They said he might not live but I thought I would go to London and make a start on the mail.

“The mail kept coming for 36 years but he never stopped trying for the people of Grimsby.

“I worked with him in the London and Grimsby offices from 1977 to 1994 before he packed me off to the University of Hull to get educated. We collaborated jointly on a book on deep sea fishing published in 1996.”

Chamber Chief Executive Ian Kelly also remembered Austin fondly. He said: “I remember the year Michael Crick,  BBC 2’s Newsnight then Channel 4’s celebrated investigative reporter, came to speak at our Annual Dinner. I asked Michael who was his favourite MP from our part of the world and without hesitation he replied Austin.

“He spoke truth unto power and was fearless in his investigations”. 

“Austin when not being terrier like in Parliament also cared deeply about Grimsby, was always supportive of the Chamber and its members and was proof that you didn’t need to be a Minister to be a success in politics”.

Austin with Ian Kelly at a Chamber Lunch, sporting one of our special mugs!