Emeritus Prof Christopher MayOct 24

To no-one's real surprise Labour has lost the Caerphilly by-election to Plaid Cymru... Plaid took the seat with a 47% share of the vote, but Reform managed to gain (pretty much from a standing start) 36%, while Labour saw a majority drop to 11% (all, on a slight larger turnout of 50%).

Its not good news for Labour, but most disappointingly the Greens vote share dropped from a previous constituency high of around 15% in 2021 to almost (but not quite) zero.

#Caerphilly #politics
h/t FT

Show threadRolloTreadwayOct 24

@ChrisMayLA6 Greens were not relevant in this case. And I hope they put no effort in at all.

The worst possible thing in the various elections over the next four years would be for the sensible 'left alternative' parties - Greens, PC, SNP and LD - to fight over the same votes. It would be disastrous.

Let them work together to figure out where each of their resources are best focused.

(Yes, I realise PC and SNP aren't going to be directly fighting over the same votes, but you know what I mean.)

Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher May

@RolloTreadway

Yes, a Left Coalition/Popular Front approach looks like the only available strategy without electoral reform!

Oct 24 at 7:21amWeb
Show threadMark BurtonOct 24
@ChrisMayLA6 @RolloTreadway
I think in Norway some years ago there was a kind of synthetic front: voters given info on where and how to vote tactically. Something an independent group could set up?
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayOct 24

@markhburton @RolloTreadway

yes, and at the last election in the UK there was a significant level of organised tactical voting of course

Show threadDaveRedwineOct 24
@ChrisMayLA6 @markhburton @RolloTreadway
The way things are going I think organised tactical voting is the only answer unless of course there is a major coup within the so called labour party soon and they have the sense to bring in PR.
Show threadStevie WestOct 25
@daveredwine @ChrisMayLA6 @markhburton @RolloTreadway At the 2024 Westminster election, I looked at the tactical voting advice from Best For Britain. Unfortunately it advised voting Labour, against the sitting SNP MP in a seat where the Tories and Reform had no chance of winning. It’s no longer a cross-party pro-EU campaign, just a Labour tool.
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayOct 25

@steviferous @daveredwine @markhburton @RolloTreadway

I think I'm right in saying that was not the major tactical voting site though?

Show threadRolloTreadwayOct 25

@ChrisMayLA6 @steviferous @daveredwine @markhburton First I've heard of it (I mean, I've heard of the campaign group, but not of any tactical voting advice from them).

There is a difference, mind, between brexit-era pro-eu tactical voting and anti-hard and far right tactical voting.

Show threadStevie WestOct 25
@RolloTreadway @ChrisMayLA6 @daveredwine @markhburton They were a pro-EU campaign back in 2016. Now just a rump. Daft thing is, their advice was to replace a strongly pro-EU MP with a Starmer poodle who won’t support rejoining.
Show threadAndy DeardenOct 24
@markhburton @ChrisMayLA6 @RolloTreadway compass is the group you are looking for https://www.compassonline.org.uk/campaigns/2024-local-elections/
2024 Local Elections - Compass

For the 2024 Local Elections, we wanted to achieve two things. We want to win council representation for progressives – […]

Compass