Boris Johnson appeals to ‘Blairite’ Guardian readers to vote Tory
|
Version 0 of 1. Boris Johnson has made an extraordinary last-minute appeal to “Blairite” Guardian readers to vote Conservative to prevent the Scottish National party winning power in coalition with Labour. Johnson made the plea as he embarked on the last 36 hours of the general election campaign, in which the London mayor has been deployed relentlessly to speak to swing voters in 20 marginal constituencies across the capital including several where Tories face losing their seats. His comments will be seen as fresh evidence that the general election is going down to the wire. In a direct appeal, Johnson said: “We are a compassionate one-nation Conservative party that cares about everybody in our country and I am genuinely more anxious than I have been before about what a Labour party that has gone right to the left in conjunction with the Scottish nationalists will do. If you are a moderate, sensible, one-nation, middle-of-the-road Blairite Guardian reader, please, please come out and vote for us.” An Ipsos Mori poll showed in 2010 that only 9% of Guardian readers voted Conservative, compared with 46% for Labour, but Johnson may have been encouraged in his attempted raid on a rump of traditionally strong Labour support by the Independent newspaper’s decision to back a second Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. Johnson spoke out as he canvassed in Croydon Central on Tuesday night for Gavin Barwell, the Tory incumbent threatened by Labour’s Sarah Jones. A snapshot poll by Lord Ashcroft in April put the Conservatives on 44% and Labour on 40%, although a month earlier Labour led by four points. It is a vital seat for the Conservatives and David Cameron said last week: “It will be very difficult for us to form a government without Central Croydon.” Jones told voters on the doorstep that the winning margin would be “less than 1,000 votes” but dismissed Johnson’s campaigning. “He is more of an entertainer that someone who will persuade people to vote,” she said. “He promised eight years ago he would extend the tram here in Croydon and he didn’t and most people would judge him on that.” Johnson, who is standing for election in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, has been deployed daily to at least 20 tight seats, making up to five trips to each. His role, according to Mike Freer, the incumbent for Finchley and Golders Green who is threatened by Labour’s Sarah Sackman, is to add “glitter and star quality”. Another MP, speaking off the record, admitted: “Boris is now a preference to anyone else” that Conservative central office could send to help, including the prime minister. He is proving adept attracting the blue-collar voters London Conservatives need to to save their seats, some said. Nick de Bois, the Tory defending the Enfield North constituency, who has also hosted the mayor, said: “Black, white and minority ethnic groups in particular are switched on by Boris”. Lee Scott, the candidate for Ilford North, said: “It was like going out with a pop star. He is mobbed wherever he goes. He must have done 250 selfies when he was here with me. A bus driver even stopped his bus in the street to get a selfie with him.” Mary Macleod, fighting to save her Brentford and Isleworth seat, said Johnson’s “engaging street politics” warmed up voters who she might otherwise not reach, vital in tight battles like hers where she is trying to “transcend party politics”. Related: Boris Johnson rolls up for brief cameo in Tory election campaign – and steals the show In the Forestdale suburb of Croydon on Tuesday night, Johnson went door to door trying to persuade Ukip supporters to return to the Tories. He succeeded with Barbara and Roger Farrington, who had voted Ukip in the 2014 local elections but seemed starstruck when Johnson rang their doorbell. Roger Barrett, who was on his roof when Johnson approached, could not be persuaded. “I won’t hold you up any further because I am conscious you are in a superior tactical position,” Johnson said. Barrett replied: “There’s not many people can say that to you.” If Johnson’s blitz of threatened constituencies is successful, it could provide him an immediate powerbase of parliamentary support for his party leadership ambitions. “The Conservatives in London who have worked with him will feel strongly that this is someone who helps us connect with ordinary people,” said Barwell. “People see politics as a dirty word, but they see Boris as a bit different. They like the fact he makes mistakes, sometimes he’s unscripted and so people think he’s authentic,” said Macleod. |