Starmer's vision quest
- Thread starter mjr
- Start date
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briantrumpet
Legendary Member
If Labour think that chasing Reform voters is going to work in a general election, I've got a bridge to sell them. Pretty clear that there was some significant tactical voting to keep Reform out.
Pross
Well-Known Member
I'm in a real quandry for the Senedd elections next year. Labour won comfortably last time with the Tories second and both Reform and Plaid were nowhere. However, there has been significant boundary changes for next year. Historically it would be even more solid Labour but I suspect it will be a two horse race between Plaid and Reform in which case I'd go Plaid to keep Reform out even though they don't generally appeal to me. The problem then is whether the vote gets split between Plaid and Labour, Reform will almost certainly pick up most of the former Tory votes. Lib Dem will just be a wasted vote unfortunately as that would be my preference but keeping Reform out is the priority. If they do get in I suppose it would be a good proving ground and warning to the UK before the next General Election if people pay attention and see the mess they will inevitably make.
First Aspect
Veteran
I would urge you to ask questions like what you want to vote for, not against. Or whether there is a better alternative.
We have too many people now voting in a fit of pique against incumbents, without any thought about whether the alternative is better or worse.
Psamathe
Veteran
I give it 10 mins before Starmer/Reeves, et. al. start with the "Further and faster" sound-bite that seems their answer to all their failings.
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
It'll be an interesting test to see if Glasman & McSweeney are still driving the "We've not been Reformy enough yet, let's do it even harder" Labour bus. Or if, possibly, someone twigs that that tactic is going to leave them with just a few people who really want to vote Reform but can't quite admit that they are racists. The voters of Caerphilly have sent a clear message that they didn't want a Reform MP, and the chose the candidate who was closest to to their views who could do that. Oh, Plaid is pro re-joining the EU too.
Chris Mason must be sad this morning.
Pross
Well-Known Member
No-one offers that anymore. Lib Dems probably come closest but I may as well not vote as vote for them.
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
That's the dilemma with FPTP and partly why people are so cynical about politics. It's why Labour got such a thumping majority in 2024, in that it was a massive anti-Tory vote, and people chose the most likely candidates to unseat them and who were vaguely on their side of the political L-R divide.
Labour are screwing that up thinking they can relentlessly chase the Reform vote without pissing off those who are generally on the L side. I think they would get a pretty big bump in polling if they ditched aping Reform.
First Aspect
Veteran
If you really think there is no least worse option, don't vote.
I personally think that is better than protest voting.
(Not that I am suggesting that you are one of the intellectual puddings who does that "I voted for Reform because Lab/Con/Lib are shjt" types, just that think that there are unfortunately a lot of British puddings.)
briantrumpet
Legendary Member
But not voting is how the wreckers get in (e.g. Trump). I can't think of a scenario where there wouldn't be a least-worst option (or less-worst, if only two parties). Not voting seems like a cop-out of having to make a really hard choice.
cookiemonster
Guru
- Location
- Far away from the asylum
