Tactical voting in the UK is a tactic where voters strategically support a candidate who isn’t their first choice but has the best chance of beating the incumbent or leading party under the first-past-the-post system. Supporters of The Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Scottish National party, or Plaid Cymru often use this strategy to back candidates with the strongest chance of defeating Conservatives and particularly in closely contested constituencies. The presence of parties like Reform UK has made this tactic more complex.
The impact of tactical voting can be notable, particularly noticeable in byelections where the message is clearer and voters are more occupied. For example, in the 2021 North Shropshire byelection, tactical voting helped the Liberal Democrats to reverse a substantial Tory majority with support from Labour voters.
In general elections, tactical voting can be tricky due to the larger scale and diverse voter participation. Groups like Best for Britain offer guides to help voters decide which candidate is most likely to beat the Tories (The Conservative Party) in their area. This tactic depends on awareness of the voters and their will to vote strategically against the Conservatives.
The upcoming 4 July elections may see more tactical voting for a few reasons. Voters are getting better at using tactical voting, shown by past byelections where Tory majorities were overturned. Liberal Democrats and former Conservative voters find supporting The Labour Party under Keir Starmer more appealing than under Jeremy Corbyn. Furthermore, there is a strong desire among voters to show their dissatisfaction with the current government.
Potential targets for tactical voting, known as “Portillo moments,” are Tory strongholds where the Liberal Democrats could gain from voter dissatisfaction with figures like Rishi Sunak. Candidates such as Penny Mordaunt, Jeremy Hunt, and James Cleverly may face tough competition if tactical voting increases.
Surveys show many voters are open to tactical voting. Nearly 40% considering it to remove a Conservative candidate and about 14% to support one. Labour and Liberal Democrat voters are more likely to vote tactically, especially in areas where polling shows a strong alternative to the Conservative candidate.
A tactical voting helps UK voters to have the power to control election outcomes in the first-past-the-post system. As the 4 July elections are near, its success will depend on voter engagement, strategic thinking, and mobilizing support to challenge Conservative incumbents in key seats.