Lia Nici: The Remarkable Political Journey from Great Grimsby MP to Reform UK Adviser

Lia Nici is a British politician and former Conservative MP who represented Great Grimsby from December 2019 until Parliament was dissolved in May 2024. Her political career attracted national attention when she became the first Conservative MP elected in Great Grimsby for more than seven decades. After losing the 2024 general election, she continued working in public affairs and joined Reform UK in December 2025. She was subsequently appointed political adviser to Luke Campbell, the Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire.

Her background in television production, education, and local government sets her apart from many politicians who entered Parliament through more conventional routes.

Early Life and Family Background

Lia Nici grew up in Grimsby, a coastal town closely tied to Britain’s fishing and maritime industries. Her upbringing gave her an early understanding of local businesses, employment, and the challenges working families face.

Her father was Italian, and her parents ran a restaurant in the Cleethorpes area. In a 2022 interview with FE Week, she discussed how her family’s work experiences shaped her outlook and political beliefs. Her mother subsequently worked as a social worker.

Nici developed an interest in creative subjects during her education. She studied art and later pursued audiovisual training, which helped establish the foundation for her broadcasting career.

Her background was particularly relevant to her later political identity because she entered public office with considerable experience outside Westminster.

From Television Production to Education

Before becoming a politician, Nici built a professional career in television production and further education.

She worked in television, including on the BBC children’s drama Byker Grove, and later established her own production business. Her involvement in broadcasting eventually led her into teaching and media education.

Her Work with Estuary TV

One of her most recognizable roles was executive producer of Estuary TV, a local television service based in Grimsby.

The broadcaster launched on Freeview in November 2013 and served communities around the Humber region, including Grimsby, Cleethorpes, Hull, and Scunthorpe.

Nici helped develop local programming and supported the station’s ambitions to provide regional news, entertainment, and community coverage.

She also spent approximately 22 years working in further education, teaching media and production-related subjects.

This combination of practical broadcasting experience and teaching later informed her parliamentary contributions concerning technical education, apprenticeships, and workforce development.

How Lia Nici Entered Politics

Nici’s political involvement began locally before developing into a parliamentary career.

She stood as a Conservative candidate in Kingston upon Hull North in the 2017 general election but did not win.

In May 2018, she was elected to North East Lincolnshire Council representing the Scartho ward.

Her experience as a councilor helped establish her political presence in the area before the 2019 general election.

The Historic 2019 Victory

The general election on December 12, 2019 marked a major turning point.

Nici defeated the sitting Labor MP Melanie Onn, securing 18,150 votes and approximately 54.9% of the vote in Great Grimsby.

Her majority was 7,331 votes.

The result ended approximately 74 years of continuous Labor representation in the constituency and formed part of the wider Conservative gains in traditionally Labor-held areas of northern England.

Brexit was a significant political issue during this election. Although Nici had previously voted Remain in the 2016 referendum, she subsequently supported implementing the referendum result.

Parliamentary Responsibilities and Government Positions

During her time in the House of Commons, Lia Nici held several parliamentary and government responsibilities.

Working with Boris Johnson

In February 2022, she became a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

This position involved supporting the Prime Minister’s parliamentary work and maintaining communication within the governing party.

Her appointment followed a period in which she had publicly supported Johnson’s leadership.

Ministerial Appointment in 2022

Nici later served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Leveling Up, Housing and Communities from July 8 to September 20, 2022.

She then became an Assistant Government Whip, serving from September 20 until October 27, 2022, during Liz Truss’s premiership.

Parliamentary Committee Experience

Her parliamentary responsibilities also included membership of the Backbench Business Committee and the Women and Equalities Committee.

These appointments involved parliamentary scrutiny and committee work alongside her constituency responsibilities.

Issues She Raised for Great Grimsby

Nici’s parliamentary contributions often reflected Great Grimsby’s economic and historical character.

Fishing and seafood processing were particularly important subjects. In February 2021, she raised concerns in Parliament about additional paperwork and costs affecting fish exporters trading with European markets.

She also stressed the importance of protecting fishing communities and recognizing trawlermen’s contributions.

Education was another recurring priority. Drawing on her teaching experience, she joined debates on further education, technical qualifications, and apprenticeships.

Her parliamentary record demonstrates engagement with both national legislation and issues directly connected to local employers and residents.

Why Did Lia Nici Lose the 2024 Election?

The July 4, 2024 general election ended Nici’s parliamentary career.

Following constituency boundary changes, she contested the new Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes seat as the Conservative candidate.

Labor’s Melanie Onn won the election, returning to Parliament after beating Nici in 2019.

The official results were:

CandidatePartyVotes

Melanie Onn Labor 15,336

Oliver Freeston Reform UK 10,533

Lia Nici Conservative 8,269

Nici finished third with approximately 22.6% of the vote.

The result came amid a wider national shift in which Labor won the general election, and the Conservatives lost numerous parliamentary constituencies.

The changed constituency boundaries also mean that comparisons with the 2019 Great Grimsby result require care.

Joining Reform UK and Working with Luke Campbell

A new chapter began in December 2025 when Nici left the Conservative Party and joined Reform UK.

Her move was announced alongside the defections of former Conservative MPs Jonathan Gullis and Chris Green.

On December 4, 2025, the appointment of Nici as political adviser to Luke Campbell, the Reform UK Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, was publicly reported.

Campbell, a former Olympic boxing champion, became the region’s first directly elected mayor in May 2025.

What Does Her Advisory Position Involve?

The appointment was intended to provide political advice and support to the mayor and his administration.

The Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority works across regional priorities including transport, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and skills.

Nici’s previous experience as a parliamentarian, councilor, educator, and media professional provides relevant background for this advisory position.

Unlike her former parliamentary office, the advisory appointment is not an elected seat in the House of Commons.

Conclusion

Lia Nici has followed a career spanning television production, further education, local government, and national politics. Her 2019 election victory marked a significant shift in Great Grimsby’s parliamentary representation, while her subsequent government appointments brought her into the heart of Westminster politics.

Although she left Parliament after the 2024 general election, her move to Reform UK and appointment to Luke Campbell’s team showed her continued involvement in regional politics. Her career reflects the connections between local experience, parliamentary representation, and the changing landscape of British politics.

(FAQs)

1. Who is Lia Nici?

Lia Nici is a British politician, former Conservative MP for Great Grimsby, and member of Reform UK. She represented Great Grimsby in Parliament from 2019 until 2024 and was appointed political adviser to Hull and East Yorkshire Mayor Luke Campbell in December 2025.

2. How old is Lia Nici?

She was born on August 1, 1969, making her 57 years old as of October 2026.

3. Was Lia Nici a Conservative MP?

Yes. She was elected as the Conservative MP for Great Grimsby in December 2019. She remained associated with the Conservative Party after leaving Parliament but switched to Reform UK in December 2025.

4. Who defeated Lia Nici in the 2024 general election?

Labor candidate Melanie Onn won the Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes constituency in July 2024. Nici finished third behind Onn and Reform UK’s Oliver Freeston.

5. What does Lia Nici do now?

Her most recently verified political appointment was as an adviser to Luke Campbell, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, announced in December 2025. The role involves providing political support and advice to the mayoral administration.

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