Workington Man hits back at ‘patronising stereotype’ after election experts say Northern voters hold keys to No10
MEN in Workington have hit back at the idea that they are simple, rugby-league-loving northerners after being named as the voters the prime minister must target in the coming election.
The term “Workington Man” was coined this week by right-of-centre think tank Onward, which said the Conservatives will have to win over “middle England” if they are to secure a majority.
The group said the Wokington Man is an older, Brexit-backing, working class man who lives in a northern rugby league town and typically votes Labour.
The highest concentration of these key voters live in the Cumbrian coastal town of Workington.
But residents of Workington seemed nonplussed by the new term, and said it was better suited to describing the town as it was forty years ago.
Allan Mitchell, 53, a civil servant from Workington, said that people were “offended by the Conservatives’ northern stereotyping”, adding: “This may backfire.”
“People expect a campaign, but they don’t like being patronised,” he said.
“I’d expect all the parties to target voters in some way, and with Workington being a fairly marginal seat
“The idea that we’re all simple northerners without the university degrees they seem to think are standard, and all attend rugby league matches at the weekend, is causing widespread offence.
“It’s a cliche that belongs in the 1970s.”
Hotelier Grant Payne, 74, also said he didn’t think the profile would prove useful.
He said: “I voted to leave the EU but I am not sure people will be focusing on Brexit when they vote in the general election.
“I think the main focus here will be on jobs.”
After much wrangling, MPs on Tuesday backed a general election to take place on December 12.
‘WON’T VOTE LABOUR WITH CORBYN IN CHARGE’
Since the Workington constituency was created in 1918, the Conservatives have never won the seat as a result of a general election.
Conservative MP Richard Page held the seat for three years following the 1976 by-election, and has been the only non-Labour MP to ever represent the constituency, which backed Leave in 2016.
Retired paper mill worker Ken Hyde, 77, said: “There’s a lot of people that have been staunchly Labour all their lives and they are refusing to vote Labour while Corbyn is in charge.
“I know some people who said they will vote for the Brexit Party instead.”
Keith Ackerley, 72, said: “To be honest, I’m not particularly happy there is an election.
“It’s more time and money spent elsewhere than on the real issues.”
Not everyone thought the suggestion that politicians should focus on Workington was a bad one.
Christopher Clarkin, 51, from neighbouring Cockermouth, said he was “excited” by the idea.
“For too long we’ve been neglected in politics as Labour has had the view of Workington being a safe seat,” he said.
The use of voter stereotypes dates back to the 1980s, when Essex Man was the key target swing voter that gave Margaret Thatcher a decade in power.
By 1997, Tony Blair had to win over Mondeo Man, and it was David Cameron’s task in 2010 to woo Worcester Woman.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.