Thread by @jonworth

Which UK parties are behaving most sensibly - with regard to tactical voting - to maximise the chances their political aims on Brexit being met?

The answer?
SNP
Plaid Cymru
The Conservatives

Which are not?
Labour
Liberal Democrats
Greens
Brexit Party

What do I mean?

The problem is in a two or three way marginal, the danger is if the pro-Remain or pro-Brexit vote is split, the other side wins

Example 1 - Putney

Tory held, Labour 2nd, Lib Dems far back in 3rd

Danger is Lib Dems and Labour split the Remain vote, so the Tory wins

Example 2 - Wokingham

Tory held, Lib Dems best placed to come 2nd or win, Labour likely 3rd

Danger is Lib Dems and Labour split the Remain vote, so the Tory wins

Example 3 - Stroud

Labour very narrowly held, Tories 2nd, Greens campaigning energetically with a good candidate

Danger is Greens take Labour votes, so the Tory slips through and wins

Example 4 - Hartlepool

Labour held, Tories 2nd 2017 but UKIP second 2015. Brexit Party did not stand down here

So pro-Brexit vote is split, meaning Labour can slip through and win the seat

Why are SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives the exceptions?

In Wales, Plaid Cymru have struck deals with the Liberal Democrats to avoid those two parties splitting the vote, and it's pretty sure the Plaid vote will not let in a Tory anywhere

In Scotland, SNP is the best placed pro-independence and pro-EU party in every constituency, so rightly runs hard in every constituency

And the Conservatives are the best placed pro-Brexit Party in every constituency, so it makes no sense to stand down

And yes, I understand why the Greens would like some MPs. I understand why Labour people would prefer Labour MPs to Lib Dems, and Lib Dems the other way around.

But the way Labour, the Lib Dems, the Greens and the Brexit Party are playing this means they *can damage* their own aims on Brexit in this election.

And yes, I know parties don't like collaborating.
And yes, I know Labour people dislike Lib Dems and vice versa.
And yes, I know the UK's First Past the Post election system is grim.

But the danger here is this: tactical voting by Remain people, and doing it in a hard nosed, non-sentimental manner, is the only way to stop the Tories getting a majority at #GE2019

Like it or not that means:
Labour in Putney
Lib Dem in Wokingham
Labour in Stround
Labour in Hartlepool
... and many others I have explained here: tacticalvoting.jonworth.eu

/ends