Tactical Voting May Stop Nigel Farage Being PM

Nigel Farage’s hopes of becoming prime minister could be scuppered by a nationwide wave of anti-Reform tactical voting, polling experts have said.

A study by the More in Common found that left-wing voters are far more likely to vote tactically than those on the right.

Even Conservative supporters are more likely to vote for the Lib Dems to stop Reform than they are to back Nigel Farage’s party, the research found.

Overall, one in three voters (32%) said they were willing to vote tactically to block candidates they don’t like.

But while around half of Labour, Lib Dem and Green supporters say they would, only 35% of Tories and 30% of Reform voters are prepared to do so.

Just over half (51%) of Tories say they would never vote Reform, while 50% said they were willing to vote tactically for the Lib Dems.

More in Common director Luke Tryl said tactical voting “has begun to play a more decisive role in our politics”, with Reform the big losers.

He said: “Across by-elections in Caerphilly, Makerfield, Gorton and Denton and even for Count Binface in Clacton, we have seen ruthless tactical consolidation against Reform, with the right struggling to build tactical coalitions in the same way.

“Our research confirms this shift. Progressive voters, especially young voters and graduates, have become increasingly willing to vote tactically.

“Majorities of Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat voters are now willing to do so. Right-leaning and older voters are less willing to do so. Restore and Reform voters say they are the least open to voting tactically.”

Tryl added: “It’s possible that tactical voting could prove a barrier to Farage’s chances of entering Number 10.

“In focus groups, we’ve heard from some progressive voters who say they are ‘terrified’ of a Reform government, and would be willing to vote for anyone to keep them out.

“A left willing to vote ruthlessly tactically, and a right unwilling to unite behind Farage, could prove one of Reform’s greatest challenges at the next election.”

In a further blow for Farage, More in Common also found that the public preferred the prospect of a Labour government to a Reform or Tory one.

Some 37%, including a clear majority of Liberal Democrat and Green supporters, would back a Labour government if they were forced to make a choice, compared to 23% for both the Conservatives and Reform.

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