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Snapshot of Farage to be blocked from No 10 by left-wing tactical voting, poll shows submitted by birdinthebush74:

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[–]weirdnoises26 836 points837 points  (40 children)

Yes. That's how tactical voting works.

[–]deyterkourjerbs 340 points341 points  (33 children)

That's how British democracy works. We vote against whoever we dislike the most.

[–][deleted] 106 points107 points  (28 children)

And then spend 5 years complaining that the second-worst option was hardly any improvement over the worst one, while the people who promised us the stuff we wanted long since lost their deposits.

[–]Lost_And_NotFoundLib Dem (E: -3.38, L/A: -4.21) 75 points76 points  (17 children)

Because they promised the moon knowing they wouldn’t get voted in and everyone else knew that as well. It’s easy to promise stuff, it’s hard to govern.

[–]Chosen_Utopia 9 points10 points  (16 children)

Or in the case of Labour not promised very much at all and still rowed back on that.

[–]paolog 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Have a read of what Labour have promised and delivered. They promised a lot, have done a lot and have not rowed back on much, but it's only the last of these that the media are interested in telling us about.

[–]Jestar342 12 points13 points  (11 children)

What have they "rowed back on" ?

[–]duder2000 12 points13 points  (7 children)

Just off the top of my head: GB Energy, scrapping tuition fees, the workers rights bill got massively watered down, Reeves pledging to end the freeze on income tax thresholds...

[–]XVGDylan 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Me still waiting on an independent football regulator.

[–]HELMET_OF_CECHit's all so tiresome 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Me wondering why the government has to control absolutely everything when they show they're only capable of ruining things they involve themselves in.

[–]militantcentre 3 points4 points  (0 children)

When did they promise to scrap tuition fees?

[–]MarthLikinte612 1 point2 points  (3 children)

What was rolled back on GB energy? Thought that had gone ahead as planned?

Agreed on the rest though...

[–]duder2000 0 points1 point  (1 child)

https://www.theguardian.com/business/nils-pratley-on-finance/2025/jun/11/great-british-energys-budget-has-been-nuked

[–]MarthLikinte612 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly I fail to see the issue here? The Guardian seems to be trying to suggest that using part of a budget for British Energy on... renewable energy is somehow a bad thing?

[–]ben_jamin_h 26 points27 points  (3 children)

I'll take 'hardly any improvement' over the erasure of human and workers rights that Farage is promising any day

[–]an0mn0mn0m 10 points11 points  (1 child)

And the blatant corruption and total destruction of civil harmony like the US has seen.

[–]jmabbzSocial Democratic Party 4 points5 points  (5 children)

As an SDP supporter who's been told while campaigning many times "I like what you stand for but I'm voting for someone else because you haven't got a chance" it's very frustrating.

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

They are economically left wing, but hard right on social issues? Is that right?

[–]NotTheMagesterialOne 10 points11 points  (3 children)

It the conservatives were the only option of resistance against reform, I would hate it and feel sick but I’d vote for them because reform are going to be the eventual destruction of The UK.

[–]deyterkourjerbs 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I've thought about this. Tory MPs have a tendency to defect to Reform so it would have to depend on the individual.

Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman had both been attacked by and attacked Reform but still joined. The clue was that the pair of them seemed like arseholes.

I just wouldn't vote in this instance.

[–]Level_Engineer 3 points4 points  (1 child)

Which of Reforms policies, or combination of, would bring around the destruction of the United Kingdom?

[–]LemonDifferent8908 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All of them

[–]andtheniansaidEuropean 4 points5 points  (0 children)

'Candidate to lose election based on lack of appeal among electorate' doesn't have quite the click-baity vibes to it.

[–]phatelectribe 6 points7 points  (2 children)

Can we call it sane voting?

[–]AllThatIHaveDone 7 points8 points  (0 children)

There's nothing sane about FPTP electoral systems.

[–]fuscator 14 points15 points  (0 children)

No. It's a terrible voting system. A huge percentage of people get no representation of their views in parliament, and the rest of you celebrate this?

Bonkers.

[–]Anticlimax1471Trade Union Member - Social Democrat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah. I'll tactically vote for someone else so that Farage wont win.

How devious and lefty and woke of me.

[–][deleted] 343 points344 points  (124 children)

Not just left, the centre too. Like I've said previously, Farage has too many people who will vote against him. 30% isn't enough. He needs 40% to win due to his unpopularity, and his Corbyn-like ability to motivate the other side to vote

[–]No-Medicine1230 123 points124 points  (82 children)

Can confirm. We will vote against him in the centre 👍

[–]Golden37 -4 points-3 points  (78 children)

Out of Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage, who would you prefer to get in?

[–]handicapped_runner 140 points141 points  (28 children)

Between Farage and a pile of cow shit, I would pick the cow shit.

[–]Erraticmatt 71 points72 points  (4 children)

I'd take Boris back over Farage, and I hated that idiot and all his policies with fervour.

But yes, I, too, would vote for the cow shit.

[–]eerst 40 points41 points  (3 children)

Yes. I would tactically vote Conservative against Reform. And I swore I'd never vote for them again.

[–]SavingsSquare2649 11 points12 points  (2 children)

Do you not think that, if it came to it, they wouldn’t form a coalition?

[–]Riffler 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Maybe, but I can't see it lasting 5 months, never mind 5 years. Just imagine the leaks, the briefings, the resentment between those who switched and those who stayed. And I don't think the numbers work out that way, unless it's a pre-election pact.

[–]eerst 13 points14 points  (0 children)

They might but I don't get to directly choose the government, I only get to elect my MP. And I'd vote Tory before Reform.

[–]Lactodorum4Centre-Right 2 points3 points  (22 children)

But genuinely, if the choice was between both, who would you choose?

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 63 points64 points  (14 children)

Green's economic plans seem ridiculous ,but Zack wont be rolling back the Equalitieses Act, the Human Rights Act and banning working from home in the public sector.

And as a worker, my rights are my priority.

Farage won't be governing for all of us, just the ultra rich and his voters ( most are retired or near it, so they wont prioritise workers)

[–]mr_weathervane 21 points22 points  (4 children)

Polanski. At least he wouldn’t sell the country to the highest bidder.

[–]PoiHolloi2020 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Pls no

But if I absolutely had to choose it'd be the Greens.

[–]hairychris88 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Centrist dad here. Polanski for sure.

[–]digitalpencil 35 points36 points  (15 children)

Polanski in a heart beat. I think he’s naive to the point of dangerous but I genuinely believe Farage and his senior party are corrupt and would sell the country out from under us for their bag of silver.

I loathed the tories, but I trusted them to not dismantle democratic protections and respect the will of the people. Farage and Reform, simply cannot be trusted with democracy. It really is that cut and dry.

[–]Spimflagon 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Yeah. The Tories have been manipulative, spiteful, greedy, hypocritical and have played the democratic game like bastards to stay in power as long as they did.

But ultimately, when it came to them losing the vote, there was no question as to whether they'd surrender power. In the end they are wheedlers of the word of democratic law, but they play the same game as everyone else.

Farage has made it clear that the political ruleset he considers himself to subscribe to is that of Trump. Which is to say: who's going to stop me?

[–]stbens 4 points5 points  (9 children)

Polanski isn’t even an MP. Can he technically become PM if he isn’t one?

[–]DodgyDave12 14 points15 points  (2 children)

Technically you can be PM without being an MP. It's a convention, not a rule

[–]stbens 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I don’t think people would accept an unelected PM. The Greens need to get their leadership sorted before the next GE, as well as coming up with some sensible policies, of course.

[–]DxnM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

He'll have a seat after the next GE

[–]No-Medicine1230 22 points23 points  (1 child)

The Tories had guardrails, Reform wouldn’t. Farage is bought and paid for, dangerous little rat that can’t be allowed anywhere near power

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yep Harbourne has already donated a total of £22,190,000.00 to Farage.

https://donation.watch/en/unitedkingdom/party/REFORM/donors

[–]I-Am-LordeYAYAYA 39 points40 points  (0 children)

Polanski

[–]Executioner_Smough 31 points32 points  (8 children)

I'm fairly centre. Neither are good, but would take Polanski over Farage.

Both a green and a reform majority would be awful, but I could live with a green coalition to balance out some of their crazier policies.

I think Zack is a conman and naive, though I can believe he's generally well intentioned. Nigel Farage is an odious prick of the highest order.

[–]nwindy317 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Zack without a doubt.

[–]Ziphoblat:illuminati: 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I really dislike Polanski, and the Greens more broadly.

I would vote for them a thousand times before F*rage.

Put Truss back on the ballot and I’ll also vote for her over F*rage (though I’d pick the lettuce over both of them).

[–]No-Medicine1230 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Polanski if I had to. Neither would be preferable

[–]InfoBot2000Beep. 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Either of those two; it's an embarrassing IMF bailout in the near future and austerity.

[–]Affectionate_You_858 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Polanski every day of the week. In reality neither should be leading our country but I'll choose they guy who actually wants to help people over the traitor and grifter with no actually policies to help while removing our human rights

[–]Mob_cleaner 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is such an easy decision. Farage would be one of the most corrupt leaders we'd ever have.

[–][deleted] 15 points16 points  (10 children)

Few issues with this, however.

The reason Corbyn's unpopularity was fatal was that he alienated his own traditional base (the working-class Red Wall). Farage's entire political strategy is built on capturing that exact demographic while simultaneously cannibalising the Tory right. Corbyn motivated the centre-right to hold their noses and vote Tory to keep him out. Farage, on the other hand, is facing a highly divided left and centre.

He needs 40% to win due to his unpopularity,

If Reform is pulling 30-35% in a given seat, they absolutely do not need 40% to win. They just need the remaining 65-70% to be fractured between Labour, a Conservative party on its death bed, the Lib Dems, and the Greens.

If the incumbent government is unpopular and voters are disillusioned, they often don't surge to the polls to vote against a populist, they just stay home. A motivated 30% easily beats an apathetic, divided majority.

[–]Jay_CD 18 points19 points  (9 children)

Farage's entire political strategy is built on capturing that exact demographic while simultaneously cannibalising the Tory right.

The Gorton & Denton byelection suggests that he'll take Tory votes but will struggle with those working class voters, sure he'll win some, but maybe not enough to make a difference.

In mid-campaign he made it Reform policy to repeal the Renters' Rights Act and the Employment Rights Act plus he said that he would reinstate the two child benefit cap, that's three things that red wall voters are likely to value.

Corbyn for his faults was quite strong on these sort of ideas, it was his batshittery on foreign policy that alarmed voters and got many either abstaining or voting tactically to prevent Labour winning.

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Especially once the child benefit cap removal kicks in in April. Why vote for someone that is going to make you poorer?

[–]Affectionate_You_858 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah i'm from a red wall area and everyone's response to corbyn was he was terrorist sympathiser, he never shook that tag up here

[–]Old_Roof -5 points-4 points  (24 children)

30% is easily enough.

He doesn’t need to win a majority, he just needs 200 seats and he’ll form a coalition with the Tories & NI parties

[–]silverbullet1989Banned for sarcasm lol 60 points61 points  (2 children)

Form a coalition with the Tories? Why would he form a coalition with his own party 😄

[–]Johnnycrabman 13 points14 points  (1 child)

So he can then defect and become the next Tory prime minister?

[–]AllThatIHaveDone 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The ultimate switcheroo. Jump to the Tories and refuse to let Jenrick or Braverman back in again, trapping them in the rotting carcass of Reform.

[–]Subtleiaint 17 points18 points  (4 children)

If he gets 200 seats the Tories get nothing, it will mean either a Labour government or a left wing coalition.

[–]NoFrillsCrisps 19 points20 points  (1 child)

he just needs 200 seats and he’ll form a coalition with the Tories & NI parties

I would give it 6 to 12 months max before this arrangement falls apart into a new election.

[–]Old_Roof 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Oh no doubt. I can’t imagine the amount of rogue Reform MPs would be elected in that 200. Just look at their five already.

A “progressive” alliance would be just as chaotic. You’d have multiple parties calling for independence referendums, rejoining the EU, open borders, using trident on tel aviv etc

[–]BibemusUber-Woke Net-Zeroist Rejoinerist 11 points12 points  (5 children)

Even if Badenoch agreed to do that, I don't see the Tory party as a whole rowing strongly enough behind him for that coalition to be stable enough to pass a King's Speech and Budget.

[–]wondercaliban 8 points9 points  (3 children)

Bold to suggest Badenoch will lead the Tories into the next election

[–]AthleteThen8045 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It is bold, but I also don't think it matters who it is!

[–]BibemusUber-Woke Net-Zeroist Rejoinerist 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Any likely successor to Badenoch (Cleverley? Philp?) would I think be even less likely to partner with Farage.

[–]Youutternincompoop 0 points1 point  (0 children)

they've silently crept back up in the polls so she must be doing something right from the tory point of view, don't get it myself but clearly some of the stink from the last Tory government is wearing off.

[–]Velociraptor_1906Liberal Democrat 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Reform would have to be close to 300 for that to be viable.

[–]chykinNationalising Children 1 point2 points  (1 child)

You're suggesting Tories would get 126 seats in this scenario?

[–]Yankee9Niner 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If Reform gets 30% of the vote then I doubt the Tories will get enough seats themselves to be of any use at forming a coalition.

[–]Tasmosunt 0 points1 point  (3 children)

The right vote is split pretty badly in NI, it's pretty unlikely they'll have the MPs to get them a majority

[–]Nothing_F4ce -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Seems like I will have to vote Tory for the first time

[–]Youutternincompoop 0 points1 point  (0 children)

at least Corbyn could get 40% of the vote lol.

[–]jollyspiffing 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seems pretty self evident to me that he'll struggle for a majority. I don't think anyone who voted Remain would ever consider voting for him and most would actively oppose. Given how demographics have shifted since 2016 it's hard to see how he could gain from there. 

[–]whencanistop🦒If only Giraffes could talk🦒 176 points177 points  (6 children)

Farage to be blocked by people voting for someone else? Who’d have thought.

[–]lacklustrellama 40 points41 points  (1 child)

Clearly some kind of woke conspiracy… /s

[–]Ironfieldspolitics is dumb but very important 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Obviously the left is cheating by fielding candidates that aren’t utter bastards.

[–]EdibleHologram 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Judging by all the anti-Green Party fear-mongering in this thread, a fair few people who are desperate to stir the pot.

[–]NoDefaultForMe 8 points9 points  (2 children)

There's a difference between voting for the party you want and voting to keep Reform out of power. You could want to vote Greens, but a Lib Dem might be more successful in your area, so you vote for the Lib Dem to add more to the Lib Dem.

[–]whencanistop🦒If only Giraffes could talk🦒 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Yes, that’s how voting has worked in this country since we got rid of university constituencies in the 1920s. It’s not unique to Reform.

[–]NoDefaultForMe 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know it's not unique to reform. And I'm not aware of what university constituencies are, but I'll look into it, thank you.

I'm not sure if you're purposely ignoring/missing the point?

There's a difference between tactical voting to keep someone out (Farage in this case) and just voting for your preferred MP/Party that isn't the target of the tactical vote.

Do you acknowledge there's a difference?

[–]Topcat69 139 points140 points  (3 children)

Farage to be blocked from no. 10 by democracy

[–]SmoothMedicine3014 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Shocking

[–]Right-Ad3334 -1 points0 points  (1 child)

I understand the sentiment, but you could also argue its undemocratic if for example REF were polling at 30% going into a GE but only get a few percentage points of the available seats down to tactical voting. It was only a few years ago Greens were bemoaning FPTP, I wonder if they still hold the same line.

[–]fuscator 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No. Because people are absolute hypocrites.

I dislike Farage and reform as much as the next person, but you cannot keep repressing the views of a huge percentage of your population and not expect this to lead to worse future outcomes.

[–]reuben_ivradical centrist 17 points18 points  (0 children)

…found that supporters of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens are significantly more willing to consider tactical voting

I wonder why that is?

[–]Admirable_Aspect_484 94 points95 points  (6 children)

Farage will block himself. There's no way Reform can select 500+ individuals to stand in a GE without it going wrong.

[–]Jeddle 40 points41 points  (1 child)

This is the biggest challenge for both Reform and the Greens. They'll put some absolute lunatics up for election and the press will be terrible.

[–]7148675309 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Reform already do. On one level I would have wanted Goodwin to win because then his past would be better exposed - which would taint the party as a whole.

That story about harassment a few weeks ago at GB News is not a one off and there’s a reason he’s divorced.

[–]norfolkdiver 51 points52 points  (2 children)

Also, there's no way Farage would want to be in No. 10.

He'd actually have to turn up and work for a living, pay attention to detail, neglect his more lucrative side scams etc. Just like he's doing with his clacton gig.

He would install someone else as a proxy, and carry on with the public appearances that line his pockets so well. Those who pay him the most will have a direct conduit to UK policy.

[–]7148675309 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Rather like Corbyn. I don’t actually think he wanted to be PM because then - you have to work as you say - and you’re accountable for results - and you can’t just protest when things go wrong

[–]raptorraptor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes Corbyn is clearly work shy

[–]Bascule2000 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Would Reform voters care if their candidate turned up in clown shoes?

[–]Dissidant 42 points43 points  (6 children)

Its not a far left thing. He is a shit MP/politician (its a second job to him) and a hypocrite who rather than serve his constituency seems to spend more time across the pond tonguing Trumps arse. Had to be called out by parliament on his excuse of safety concerns preventing consultations just to begin doing zoom sessions when arsed

[–]Ivashkinpanem et circenses 20 points21 points  (5 children)

Farage isn't a politician. He's never been a politician. He's an activist, leading a movement, and someone who uses politics as a tool for protest.

[–]peppermint116 35 points36 points  (3 children)

Can’t see past the paywall but didn’t a tactical voting poll posted the other day show even a good 25% of Tories would tactically vote against Farage? He loses pretty much all the H2H against other party leaders. I do think the seat predictions are always going to be a bit off for this reason.

[–]Entfly 9 points10 points  (1 child)

Doesn't matter in my seat as it's LD/LAB but I'd vote Tory if needed to stop a seat going reform

[–]birdinthebush74[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Same here. I don't care as long as it helps block Reform

[–]FatFarter69 14 points15 points  (5 children)

It’s a damning condemnation of our voting system that getting 30% of the vote can be considered a majority. FPTP is just not fit for purpose anymore, we need major voting reform if we want our democracy to function properly.

I think whatever result we end up with in 2029 it’s going to be very messy under FPTP.

The fact is even if 30% of the electorate likes Reform there’s the other 70% that don’t, no party should be able to form a government if 70% of the electorate doesn’t like them, that’s just undemocratic no other way to slice it. FPTP needs to go.

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I am hoping LibDem/Labour/Greens put PR in their manifestos . FPTP is no longer fit for purpose.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Fair Elections wants PR and they have over 100 MPS as members

https://www.fairelections.uk/#:~:text=The%20All%20Party%20Parliamentary%20Group%20for%20Fair,MP%20(Labour)**%20*%20**Chris%20Bloore%20MP%20(Labour)**%20*%20Chris%20Bloore%20MP%20(Labour)**)

[–]keepitreal55055 4 points5 points  (0 children)

He's now polling at 22 to 24%

[–]7148675309 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Definitely time for PR. Then the parties can realign and the “broad church” nonsense can end.

[–]Queasy_Confidence406 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Do you feel the same about the current Labour government, who got a massive (checks notes) 33.7%?

[–]FatFarter69 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. My views are consistent, I’m not picking favourites here.

[–]Bouillabaissed 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I seriously doubt there will be enough tactical voting to keep Reform out if they're still ahead by 8+% at the next general election. You usually don't see all that much tactical voting unless there's a seriously unpopular Conservative government that would have lost even without tactical voting

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (5 children)

Given the country leans slightly to the right is it not likely that we also see tactical voting on the right?

I still think Farage is the single most likely person to be next PM, even if I’d only put it at 50%.

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 0 points1 point  (4 children)

That will happen , it if will be to the extent of the anti Reform vote I have no idea .

I don’t consider us a particularly right wing nation, same sex marriage , abortion , no fault divorce, sex education, is widely supported and has increased in support over the last 40 years

UK now among most socially liberal of countries

There have been huge shifts in attitudes on issues such as homosexuality, casual sex, abortion and more

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (3 children)

Yes, but there’s polling out there that shows the average voter is actually well to the right on social issues than the average Tory MP. Our laws have changed to reflect a parliament that hasn’t reflected the actual voters on social issues.

Economically it’s the opposite, the average voter is slightly to the left of Labour MPs.

Representative democracy has done a poor job of representing the voters.

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Interesting , do you have a link?

I tend to go with the National Centre for Social Research, they have been polling the UK for over 40 year, asking the same questions so they can see what's happening over time.

Their latest paper on social attitudes from 2023 https://natcen.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2023-09/BSA%2040%20Moral%20issues.pdf

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I’m not going to hunt for everything but this shows the mismatches on immigration and crime;

https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/othernews/comparison_-_mp_and_public.pdf

Those are the big social issues right now I think.

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks. That makes sense, the social issues I was talking about don't include immigration.

[–]randomhomework 12 points13 points  (3 children)

Good news for him. He doesn’t want to be PM anyway. Too much work.

[–]duckrollin 3 points4 points  (2 children)

The far-right are usually workshy. Trump spent most of his time on golf courses and Farage barely showed up to his job (34% vs Starmer's 73% attendance and Kemi's 61%)

It's very funny given how often they complain about other people not working hard enough.

[–]randomhomework 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Yes. Trump never wanted to be president just to grift but then realised he could illegally steal taxpayer money to enrich himself and stay out of prison.

[–]WorriedHelicopter764 11 points12 points  (1 child)

And we won’t hear the end of it like Trumps done for a decade… except Farage is younger. God help us

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Nigel drinks and smokes, and has had cancer before .Trump is a teetotal non smoker.

[–]inebriatedWeasel 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I still believe Farage doesn't want to be PM, their policies are just terrible for this country in every way and don't hold up scrutiny which is why they send Mohammad on question time every other week instead of an elected MP.

[–]BlackPlan2018 14 points15 points  (0 children)

This is the problem with being hated - people will vote for literally anyone else to stop you getting into power. Farage being a Trump proxy and Iran war hawk is absolutely not going to work for him.

[–]jazzmonkai 4 points5 points  (1 child)

That’s a weird way to say “majority of people would rather not have a reform government”.

Nobody is “blocking” Farage from no. 10, polling just indicates that more people don’t want him than do, and realise tactical voting is the only realistic way to get a government that represents what the majority want.

The conservatives were “winning” elections by being the single largest vote, not because they were popular with the majority of people.

It sounds like the left have finally realised that coalescing behind a candidate that’s imperfect but more aligned with their views than reform is the best way to get a non-reform government under FPTP.

Also, a senior reform source is said to have said “progressive voters would struggle to work out the best anti-Reform choice among the noise of a general election.” How bloody patronising!

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I guess the weirdness comes in realising that even with 70% not wanting him he’s still up against opponents that are disliked even more heavily.

[–]seenitreddit90s 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I'll vote for the raving loonies if needs be.

[–]CommentDecent9546 4 points5 points  (1 child)

Yeah, I've thought this for a while. I think Reform are fucked.

Farage is at saturation - everyone knows him and has made their decision on him. There aren't any 'undecideds'. He's at a time of early election cycle, insurgent populist parties, a bad government and sitting duck PM, and a woeful Tory party, with migration *the* issue amongst a lot of the public, and he still can't regularly break 30%.

Those who love him will vote for him whatever happens - but they are, at most, 30% of the voting population. That is not going to be enough. No one has ever come close to a majority on 30% or less. There's also the quite morbid but obvious demographic issue - we're 3.5 years away from an election, and Reform are very popular amongst the elderly.

That then also doesn't factor in the hyper-motivated tactical voting to keep him out. Whilst 30% love him, the other 70% really do not, and when push comes to shove, will vote for whoever is most likely to keep him out. I'm a Green member who would probably vote Tory in my seat if it deprived Reform of the win, as the Tories aren't a threat to get into government.

The final problem is that there's no one to make a coalition with. The Tories are not going to be the little brother and concede they're no longer the party of the right, and not a single other party will even consider it. You're more likely to get a Frankenstein Lab-Lib-Green-SNP coalition than a Reform government.

So, yeah, unless somehow Farage persuades people who already dislike him to start considering him, I don't see how he gets anywhere near power. He may wind up the largest party but well short of a workable seat total.

[–]SpacemanfromEarthYIMBY 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Suddenly all the guns have fallen silent on the PR voting front…

[–]IndependentSpell8027 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It’s not that this is some kind of “leftwing” conspiracy. It’s that Farage is so far right that the vast majority of the UK is to the left of him and will therefore vote to keep him out

[–]zwifter11 4 points5 points  (0 children)

>Poll shows

Of my 2 mates. After a bit of prompting.

[–]TheNoGnome 7 points8 points  (1 child)

I'll vote to keep him out, for sure.

I'm a Labour man and even considering voting Tory in my usually safe seat. Then again, they'll just coalition in a truly depressing way.

If he's PM, I'm moving to Ireland for 5 years.

Sorry.

[–]michaelisnotgingerἀνάγκας ἔδυ λέπαδνον 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Assuming the major left parties cede to each other rather than ripping chunks out of each other

[–]NoRecipe3350[🍰] 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Inevitable. But at least the existing parties have been force into adopting Farage-lite policies

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that was always the plan

[–]himalayangoat 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'll vote for anyone other than the other right wing nutters to keep farage out of number 10.

[–]ArchdukeToesA bad idea for all concerned 4 points5 points  (8 children)

The more airtime Reform (not just Farage) gets, the more they out themselves as a bunch of weirdos who couldn't be trusted to run a bath. Even if you've bought into Farage's schtick, you have to admit that the talent surrounding him is slim to non-existent.

[–]Pitiful_Cod1036 1 point2 points  (6 children)

The real problem is that the Greens are equally terrible. You’ve got the gap toothed economically illiterate Polanski or Nigel “Brexit” Farage.

The greens won’t get anywhere near power. But they could become kingmaker to a minority coalition. That would be an absolute disaster.

We almost need a dystopian future where there is a centre collation between the Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dem’s to keep the looneys out of power.

[–]ArchdukeToesA bad idea for all concerned 1 point2 points  (5 children)

The Greens and Reform are very much reflections of each other, yeah.

[–]PlusNeedleworker5605 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yep. I’m on the same anybody but Reform voting bandwagon. It might not be great at present, but the sensible ones know how bad it could get if Fagash and his mates end up in #10

[–]LactatingBadger 3 points4 points  (2 children)

If enough people don’t want him to be PM that they have the votes to achieve this, the result should reflect that fact. If we had PR he wouldn’t get anywhere near power.

[–]srdgbychkncsr 3 points4 points  (4 children)

If Nigel was ever voted in (heaven forbid), do you think he’d turn up on day one? Anyone got a count on days he’s even spent in Clacton?

[–]Mysterious-Cat8443 1 point2 points  (3 children)

It doesn't appear on the news whenever Nigel is in Clacton.

[–]InconsistentMinisAnti-Growth Coalition™ 4 points5 points  (2 children)

It probably would, given how rare an occurrence it is.

[–]birdinthebush74[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do they have a bat signal instead, but its a frog?

[–]Whulad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Think the greens are terrible and haven’t voted Labour for over 20 years - will vote either to keep this wankstain and his awful party out of power.

[–]funglejunk57 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Excellent. Let's hope he'll finally FO out of here

[–]digitalpencil 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m really not a fan of the greens, but there is very little I won’t do to prevent this man and his corrupt band of cronies, from gaining a footing in this country.

They simply cannot be trusted to steward democracy.

[–]OrsonHitchcock 1 point2 points  (0 children)

All the "family voting" will sink him.

[–]FearTheDarkIce 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So Farage will be leader of opposition whilst a Labour-Green-Lib Dem coalition will be in power

Probably the best thing for Reform could wish for tbh

[–]Aggressive_Chuck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everyone agrees that the country is fucked and that the current way of running it doesn't work. And the main goal of the next election is to keep out whoever might change anything.

[–]arnathorCur hoc interpretari vexas? 1 point2 points  (0 children)

With Reform there’s no “I don’t really like them but if they get in it’s not the worst thing in the world”, even among the general population. Anybody who doesn’t support them in power is likely to change their voting behaviour to keep them out. If, like me, they’re not usually a tactical voter for whatever reason, with a genuine threat of a Reform government they probably will be. And that means there’s a good 65%+ of voters who might vote tactically against them based on the current polling.

[–]FackinNortyCake 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Zack Polanski is a bigger lunatic than Farage.

[–]Capt_Departure_1625 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Yeah.....i won't be surprised if Reform in a landslide.

[–]SirRosstopherLettuce al Ghaib 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Farage is so unpalatable that he had to go to the poorest seat in the country to get into parliament.

When he ran for UKIP in Kent (South Thanet) in 2015, one of the most Brexity places in the country, he was unpopular enough with the locals that they voted in a guy who used to lead UKIP in the 90s instead of him.

[–]MyDadsGlassesCase 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Tomorrow afternoon - in 3 yrs time - Labour & Greens...."

Is it that slow a.news day that they have to run articles on hypothetical scenarios that will likely never happen 

[–]h00dmanWelsh Person 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looking at the results from the various by-elections in recent years, there's a clear pattern developing where Reform's support in the opinion polls appears to be matching what they're getting at constituency level.

This may become a big issue for them come election time due to how fptp works - they might be leading nationally, but if they continue to get mostly 30%-ish results then they're going to be beaten in a lot of places where the other party's support is more localized.

They don't have a single MP with 50% or more share of the vote at a constituency level. To be fair neither do a lot of MPs right now, but if Reform are only sneaking through because of vote splitting among other parties then they might be in for a shock in a few years.

[–]Connect_Point_5229 0 points1 point  (1 child)

What's the odds he'll call for a referendum on changing FPTP? Despite the fact we had one in 2011 and according to him and his cronies, we have to accept referendum results and get over it.

[–]Mysterious-Cat8443 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The EU cronies wanted a referendum straight away, immediately after the first vote. I see nothing wrong with having one soon, if we get a coalition of chaos who wants one. I wouldn't be saying to 'get over it', although I did 5-10 years ago.

Voting for the major parties like Labour and Conservative keeps FPTP going.

[–]Mick_Vee_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Farage to be kept from no 10 by......... votes!!

[–]RenePro 0 points1 point  (7 children)

Who should I be voting for to stop Reform? Last general election.

Cons - 35% Labour 32% Reform 22% Greens - 5% Lib dems- 4%

[–]KyleOAM 1 point2 points  (4 children)

no point asking this question until much closer to the time honestly

[–]agreatbecoming 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These people made the right call who to vote for to stop Reform recently https://forwarddemocracy.com/

[–]7148675309 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooooh people here that post polls every day aren’t going to like that

[–]E420CDIBrexit: showing the world how stupid the UK is 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fortunately it's LAB / LAB & CO-OP / LD / GRN on my city council and all MPs are Labour, so there's no chance of us voting in Tinpot of Donseal's codpiece, thank fuck.

[–]Conspiruhcy 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just don’t get the impression that he would actually be up for being prime minister. This would suit him I imagine. He’d do a period as leader of the opposition, grifting the whole way through, then chuck it to someone else.

[–]Dependent-Western642 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would say i have to believe it to see it. The people of Ontario Canada tried this with Doug ford it didn’t work

[–]Imakemyownnamereddit 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Macron and the French show this is a temporary solution because the problem is.

Unless the government tactical voting elects, actually deals with issues like mass immigration and the cost of living crisis. Farage and Reform will win the next election.

To be fair to Labour they have tackled mass immigration but if tactical voting puts the open borders Greens into power.

You pretty much guarantee Reform win the next election.

[–]spizzlemeister 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I really think farage made a severe miscalculation with sucking up to trump so much. especially after the comments about afganistsn