I think the voters of hartlepool voted more on personality than policy, but a bit more complicated than that because they also voted on their own slef interest rather than their perceived national interst.
one voter said well if he does good things for hartlepool that will do me[ so never mind the rest of the uk,+
it is interesting. so despite boris is a proven liar they believe him and do not trust starmer, this is personality politics. i do not like starmer but i believe he is honest yet he looks shifty. johnson is imo untrustworthy yet voters like him, plus they think borishas done a good jobwith covid . its like the mad hatters tea party