With Boris Johnson rumoured to be moving to Herne Hill, the News has been asking local people how they feel about their potentially incoming neighbour.
The departed Prime Minister and wife Carrie Johnson recently sold their £1.6 million Camberwell townhouse and, according to national papers and local gossip, could be headed just north of Brockwell Park.
While most locals said Johnson is “entitled to live where he wants” others said the move would be “dreadful given the area’s left-wing, remainer credentials.”
Myra Sands, a retired dramatist, said: “It doesn’t make any difference to me as long as he doesn’t have any loud parties!”
Jackie Abbott, 62, a retired international educator said: “I don’t mind at all. Why would I mind? Live and let live, he’s got to live somewhere.”
Andrew Malecki, a retired banker who has lived in Herne Hill for 40 years, said: “I’m not a fan of Boris Johnson. At the same time, he’s got a perfect right to live where he wants. I’d like to see him jogging… he’d probably stop and say something in Latin.”
Cecil Novas, an electrician and Herne Hill resident, said: “I’d be happy. I have no problems with Boris. The man did a good job.”
Meti, who has lived in Herne Hill for eight years, was excited by the prospect. He said: “He seems like a good guy, he’s a funny character. I hope to see him and say hello!”
Asked what he’d say to Boris Johnson, Meti said: “I’d get a selfie and say ‘I hope you enjoy the area!’ Everybody has to have a chance. Be kind to each other!”
But some residents baulked at the prospect of having Johnson as a neighbour. Retired journalist Richard Jott, 83, said: “I just think it’s dreadful. This is one of the most left-wing areas in the whole of London. He should live in Kensington and Chelsea or somewhere like that.”
Local mum Roz said: “It’s ridiculous. He can live where he likes but it would just be a bit weird and I don’t think many people would be that thrilled. We’ll see him cycling, working on his burn. I guess it’s weird because most people voted to remain in the EU and it’s Labour voting and he’s the opposite of those things.”
In the 2016 Brexit referendum, Dulwich and West Norwood, which contains Herne Hill, voted remain in the EU referendum by 78 per cent, the third most in the UK, behind Gibraltar and Vauxhall.
Another local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I think it’s dreadful because I can’t stand him. I just think we’re one of the biggest anti-Brexit boroughs, so to have him living here is a bit of a kick in the teeth.”