One-Third of UK Voters Could Vote Tactically as Reform Opposition Grows

By

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter                     Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor

According to a recent survey, 32% of British voters would consider casting a tactical ballot in the upcoming general election. Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green supporters are particularly likely to consider changing their preferred vote in an attempt to prevent Reform UK from winning.


Recent research by More in Common found that around a third of British voters would consider voting strategically, as Reform UK continues to play a significant role in the country’s changing political landscape.

According to the survey, 32% of voters would consider voting strategically, meaning they would support a party other than their first choice in an effort to prevent another party from winning in their constituency.

Supporters of the Greens, Labour and Liberal Democrats were the most likely to consider tactical voting. More than half of Labour supporters (51%) said they would consider doing so, compared with 54% of Liberal Democrat supporters and 51% of Green supporters. Among Conservative and Reform UK supporters, the figures were lower, at 35% and 30% respectively.

Luke Tryl, director of More in Common, said tactical voting has become increasingly important in British politics. He added that focus groups had heard from some progressive voters who were “terrified” of a Reform government and would be willing to support another party to prevent this from happening.

Tactical voting could also cross traditional party lines. The results show that 49% of Labour supporters and 53% of Liberal Democrat supporters would consider voting Conservative if it meant preventing Reform from winning.

Tryl also highlighted an imbalance among right-leaning voters. Conservative supporters were more likely to consider backing the Liberal Democrats than Reform, while six in ten Reform supporters said they would be willing to vote Conservative tactically.

The research was carried out before two bitcoin billionaires, Ben Delo and Christopher Harborne, donated £36 million to Reform. The September announcement of the donations, which brought Reform’s total funding to £72 million, sparked debate over the rules surrounding large political donations.

Although new laws could introduce restrictions on donations from British citizens living overseas or returning to the UK, Reform has maintained that the donations comply with existing laws. As a result, the survey cannot determine whether voters’ opinions have been affected by the funding controversy.

Under Britain’s first-past-the-post system, where relatively small changes in votes can determine the outcome of a constituency, the findings are particularly relevant. However, they measure voters’ stated willingness to vote tactically rather than estimating how many seats Reform could ultimately lose.

The research is therefore better understood as a snapshot of current public opinion rather than a prediction of the next election’s outcome, particularly as the next general election is not scheduled until 2029.

Check out Zuzana's LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/zuzana-moscakova-4b4a7b298/

Check out Vanesa's LinkedIn 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanesa-zackova-878379314/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why ‘Natural Disaster’ Is a Political Term

By
Image
Nicole Chunye, Political Columnist Hurricane Melissa, a devastating storm, recently swept over Jamaica, destroying farms,  investments, and many people’s lives. According to the British Red Cross and AP News, the  storm’s ferocity was among the worst the island has ever faced. It tore through  communities with catastrophic winds and relentless rain, leaving many homes destroyed  and thousands of citizens displaced. While many describe it as a ‘natural disaster,’ experts at World Weather Attribution say  climate change driven by humans intensified its impact. The words we use matter because  calling events like this ‘natural’ risks overshadowing our role in creating and preventing  future catastrophes. This hurricane crashed into Jamaica as a powerful Category 5 storm, bringing with it  sustained winds of around 185 mph and torrential rainfall that battered the island for hours  (World Weather Attribution, 2025). The hurricane’s slow movement ...
Read more

The Rise Of The Populist Right Isn’t Just About Culture - It’s the Economy, Too

By
Image
Charlie Temple, Political Commentator Culture wars make a lot of noise, but nothing is louder than the silence left by economic decline.  Many question the common pattern emerging amongst the Western world - the rise of the  populist right: the AfD in Germany, Trump in America, Le Pen in France, the list goes on. The  most widely accepted explanation for this phenomenon rests on accusations of inherent bigotry  and xenophobia within our societies; however, this is a superficial answer, one that is too  simplistic and binary. To truly understand the rise of the populist right, we must look beyond  identity politics and examine the economic determinants that have created fertile ground for their  rhetoric to resonate with the masses. The populist right isn’t winning because of their divisive  views on identity, but because they are tapping into a deeper frustration, one that has accumulated over  years of economic stagnation and decline. While ...
Read more

France on the Brink: Is Europe’s Former Powerhouse in Trouble?

By
Image
Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter               Loyal Daniel, Political Editor France is facing mounting debt, political turmoil and growing social unrest. Together, these  pressures are raising concerns that the country may be entering one of its most fragile periods  in decades. France, once seen as a pillar of stability in Europe, is now at the centre of growing concern. A mix of economic strain, political paralysis and public frustration has led commentators to warn that the country may be slipping into the role of Europe’s new “sick man.” It is a stark label for a nation that has long projected confidence both at home and abroad. One of the most urgent problems is France’s escalating public debt. Estimates show that it has  reached more than €3.3 trillion, which is around 114 per cent of national GDP. The cost of  servicing this debt has risen sharply and now absorbs tens of billions of euros every year....
Read more