Boris Johnson, WFH, and Mr. Darcy: Why This Argument is Absolute Nonsense

Hello, lovely readers,

Today, I want to talk about an article that’s been making the rounds. You might have seen Boris Johnson’s latest in The Daily Mail, where he claims that working from home (WFH) is somehow to blame for today’s Bridget Joneses not finding their Mr. Darcy.

Yes, you read that right.

According to Boris, the decline of in-person work is the reason single women are doomed to romantic oblivion. He argues that without the bustling office setting, today’s "Bridgets" will never meet their "Mr. Darcy." He even has the audacity to imply that this supposed decline in office culture is trapping modern women in a sad, lonely existence - unmarried and unfulfilled. ????♀?

Now, I’m not one to let such nonsense slide, especially when it’s wrapped up in lazy stereotypes about single women, work, and, well, the entire Bridget Jones narrative.

First things first, Boris has clearly never actually read or watched Bridget Jones properly. Because if he had, he would know that Bridget met Mr. Darcy at a turkey curry buffet at her parents' house. Not at the office. Not over the photocopier. Not at a water cooler. At a buffet.

So, this entire argument about how working from home is preventing women from meeting their "Mr. Darcys" is, frankly, embarrassing. If we're following Bridget’s example, the office has nothing to do with it. She met her "Mr. Darcy" through family friends, awkward small talk, and, of course, her mother’s well-meaning matchmaking efforts. (Evidence - https://youtu.be/KON9Pu1B_74?feature=shared )

And About That Other Guy…

Let’s not forget, Bridget did meet someone at work - her creepy boss, Daniel Cleaver. And if that’s the kind of romantic dynamic Boris is nostalgic for, we have bigger problems to address. Her office fling was with a man who took advantage of his position, blurred boundaries, and treated Bridget (and countless others) as a casual conquest. The fact that Boris is framing the office as a key venue for finding love, without acknowledging the risks of power dynamics and inappropriate behaviour, is downright insidious.

And this hits particularly hard given the recent revelations about the toxic work culture at Harrods, where a former director spoke out about the culture Mohamed Al-Fayed fostered. This environment reportedly included fear, paranoia, and mistreatment of employees. While Bridget Jones’s romance with her boss might be seen as lighthearted in the film, real-life workplace dynamics like those revealed at Harrods are anything but.

It’s worrying that Boris is pining for a return to a work environment that normalises the blending of professional and personal boundaries, especially when recent news shows just how harmful these dynamics can be. Let’s be clear: workplaces should be about respect, professional growth, and fairness - not about finding your next date or, worse, navigating the dangerous waters of power imbalances and harassment.

WFH Has Nothing to Do With Your Love Life

Boris’s argument implies that the office is some magical romantic setting where love blossoms. And sure, relationships can happen anywhere - but the office is not, and never has been, the only place to meet someone.

WFH hasn’t suddenly destroyed the possibility of meeting new people. In fact, technology has made it easier than ever. We’ve got dating apps, online communities, and, you know, life outside of work. You can meet people through friends, hobbies, volunteering, or, dare I say, even at a turkey curry buffet. The idea that your love life is doomed because you’re not physically in an office is outdated, reductive, and frankly bizarre.

Women Are More Than Their Relationship Status

What’s even more ridiculous about this argument is the underlying assumption that women’s lives are somehow incomplete without a romantic partner. Let’s be real, whether Bridget met Mr. Darcy or not, her story was about her journey, her growth, and learning to love herself, regardless of whether there was a man in the picture.

The same is true for so many women today. Finding a partner is not the ultimate goal of life. We’re out here building careers, friendships, and lives that fulfil us - with or without a Darcy.

The Real Shame Here

What’s truly embarrassing is how articles like this reduce the complexity of modern life to tired tropes. Women don’t need to be "saved" by a romantic partner. We certainly don’t need to be told that the office is our only hope of finding love. And we definitely don’t need Boris Johnson (or anyone else) lecturing us on how to live our lives, especially when the argument is built on such a flimsy premise.

So, let’s leave the matchmaking to family buffets, the personal growth to ourselves, and the outdated ideas about women and work in the past, where they belong.

That’s all for today, peeps. Let me know what you think about this nonsense in the comments, and I’ll see you next time!

With love and common sense,

Michelle

PS If you've not seen it yet - we have a podcast - have a listen where you normally find yours, or here - https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michelle-minnikin