If Boris Johnson wants to win over the “woman Waitrose,” the mood among shoppers at a luxury supermarket branch suggests he’s lost his job. In Fulham, west London, many women say they are Labor or Liberal Democrat voters, while even her supporters are not entirely sure they will vote for her.
The “Waitrose Woman” is a new voter demographic that Conservatives have identified as one Johnson needs to reclaim in order to stay at No. 10. According to his research, she is middle-class, southern, and not a Brexit fan. nor of cultural wars. .
Perhaps as proof of this, he granted an interview to Mumsnet this week, during which he was accused of being a “regular liar.”
Outside the Fulham branch, located in the Fulham and Chelsea constituency of Conservative MP Greg Hands, Layla Powell, a chef, enters with her Waitrose brand handbag. Powell says that even though he likes the Prime Minister and has known him, that would not necessarily translate into voting for him.
“To be honest, when it comes to politics I’m in the middle,” he said. “As a person I like it. His policy, however, has recently not been entirely up to par. I’m in a dead end. I am not in favor of Labor or Conservatives. “
Although he is considered middle-class and someone who would benefit from conservative voting, he says the party “is not for the masses.” At the moment she is not sure if either of the two main parts is better than the other, she says. “It simply came to our notice then. Maybe the Liberal Democrats. “
A regular at Waitrose, he sees his buyers as “predictably conservative … Obviously, in terms of price, it’s a little higher than Tesco or Sainsbury’s.”
Yasmin Robinson, photographed with Nick Love, says Johnson “is not a very present prime minister.” Photo: Linda Nylind / The Guardian
Leaving the store with her arms full of groceries, Yasmin Robinson, 25, is a Lib Dem voter and says she was “raised by a Waitrose woman.” But the Fulham sales manager doesn’t think most typical Waitrose shoppers can vote for Lib Dems.
She says Johnson “is not a very present prime minister” and describes herself as very disillusioned with politics. In fact, she is so unhappy with the current government that she was dissuaded from joining the civil service.
His partner Nick Love, 24, says he knows many conservative “fashion moms” who have recently been left out of the party. “A lot of the Tory mothers I know won’t vote Tory now,” says Love, a Sussex finance worker. “Because they care about Partygate.” But he is not sure if he will get them to vote for another party. “We’ll have to see.”
Mark Jennings, 58, a Labor-backed antique lighting restorer, and 49-year-old Ilona, a sports massage therapist, say Johnson is a “liar” and a “shame.” “There’s nothing good about him,” Ilona says.
Amy Butcher, 37, a Labor-voting teacher, says of the Tories and Johnson: “We’re not his big fans, are we? I just think it’s just for him and his friends.”
But he believes Waitrose is the wrong place to start if he wants to increase support. “I think they have to go into the real world and see real people, go and talk to some people at the food banks. Talk to the people who decide whether to warm up or eat.”
Hilde Rodriguez, 73, who is retired and lives in West Kensington, says she is not considered a “Waitrose woman,” but that as a conservative, Johnson has her backing. “No problem will make me change my mind,” he added.
Stephanie Colman: “I don’t want to do my job, someone has to do it.” Photo: Linda Nylind / The Guardian
Stephanie Colman, 51, who buys picnic ingredients and is “usually a cooperative person,” also sympathizes with the prime minister. The hairdresser in the South West of England says, “I don’t want to do my job, someone has to do it.”
He thinks Johnson is “smart” and “does pretty well when he needs to,” and any problems are due to his wider team. “It takes more than one person, doesn’t it?” she says.
She questions the term “Waitrose woman,” and adds, “It could be a Waitrose man, as the future goes. Maybe that’s what you should be thinking.”
A 10-year-old spokesman said: “This government is focused on providing services to all parts of society, including women, from ensuring that women feel safe at night to ensuring that they have opportunities. The Conservatives also introduced the mandatory report on the pay gap for large employers, as well as shared parental leave and twice as much free childcare for eligible parents. “.
A Waitrose spokesman said: “I understand the Guardian has been talking to customers at our Fulham store, so we’ll let them speak for themselves.”