Johnson told to stop wearing Grimsby hat because he’s ‘bringing town into disrepute’

Boris Johnson wore a Grimsby Town FC bobble hat as he left the Covid Inquiry in London on Thursday
Boris Johnson wore a Grimsby Town FC bobble hat as he left the Covid Inquiry in London on Thursday - MAJA SMIEJKOWSKA/REUTERS

Boris Johnson has been told to stop wearing a Grimsby Town FC hat by hundreds of residents who say he is bringing the area into “serious disrepute”.

The former prime minister, 59, was pictured wearing a GTFC bobble hat as he left the Covid Inquiry in London on Thursday.

That prompted a petition by John Dale, a resident of the Lincolnshire town, who accused Mr Johnson of using League Two side Grimsby “to add lustre and glamour to his own shattered life”.

The petition, entitled “Ban Boris Johnson from wearing Grimsby Town FC hat and shaming a community”, had received more than 500 signatures by Friday evening.

A petition called for a ban on the former prime minister from wearing the Grimsby Town FC hat and ‘shaming a community’
A petition called for a ban on the former prime minister from wearing the Grimsby Town FC hat and ‘shaming a community’ - Portlock/Getty Images

“Disgraced ex-prime minister Boris Johnson attended the Covid inquiry wearing a woolly hat bearing the letters GTFC. It is the hat worn by fans of the highly respected Grimsby Town Football Club,” wrote Mr Dale.

“Johnson has no formal connection to the club. He has never lived in Grimsby. He is using the town to add lustre and glamour to his own shattered life. He is also bringing Grimsby into serious disrepute.

“This petition asks that Johnson stops wearing the hat and adopts a hat more suited to his lowly status, eg MUFC [Manchester United].”

Some who signed the petition also voiced their dismay, with one writing: “Grimsby Town’s situation is bad enough without that clown making it worse.”

Another said: “I totally agree with the community of Grimsby that Johnson is bringing shame to them by wearing the town’s hat. He is trying to look like a man of the people when he is the total opposite.”

The Covid Inquiry is not the first time Mr Johnson has been spotted wearing the Grimsby Town hat. He was photographed in 2020 wearing it on holiday in the Scottish Highlands, and again as he took an early-morning jog with his dog, Dilyn, near Downing Street.

Mr Johnson appeared at the Covid Inquiry on Wednesday and Thursday this week to give evidence. He gave an emotional defence of his premiership, insisting “I do care” about the people who died in the pandemic and that he never wanted to let the virus “rip”.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month, then enjoy 1 year for just $9 with our US-exclusive offer.