Local tactical voting advice (Debate)

Mon 24 Jun, 23:10

As Mark points out, getting the Tories out is no done deal yet. Ignore the narrative that Labour are heading for a huge landslide and beware of the "shy Tories".

Many thanks to the very well informed Oxford Clarion for pointing out there was an actual local by-election in Oxfordshire last week in the Didcot & Wantage constituency. The Lib Dems won both but the results were surprisingly close between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives. They said the Lib Dem MP Layla Moran ‘pointed to the phenomenon of “shy Tories” and called for tactical voting’.

Layla Moran tweeted: ‘Double by-election win for @LibDems in Oxfordshire. Note that the Tories were close in the county seat. Yet in the campaign we found very few who would admit it. This shows yet again if you want the Tories out you need to vote Liberal Democrat where we are the main contenders.’

I would of course add if you want the Tories out you also need to vote Labour where they are the main contenders. 

Oxford Clarion today says of the Banbury constituency: 'Banbury is an easy race to call. Only two parties, the Conservatives and Labour, are actively pitching for votes. Labour posters are everywhere and the party is campaigning relentlessly. The three projections (Electoral Calculus, YouGov, Survation) have only these two parties in contention, though they disagree on how close it is.'

On the other Oxfordshire constituencies Oxford Clarion says:

'Bicester & Woodstock is a close battle between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.'

Didcot and Wantage: "This is between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats."

Henley& Thame: "This is between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats."

Witney: "The Conservatives are strong favourites to hold this seat but the Liberal Democrats have the best chance of winning it off them. Labour is a respectable third but unlikely to take the seat."

If you are voting tactically in Oxfordshire (and that's an "if") then you know what to do! (N.B. I am sure on here you all aware by now but just in case: Charlbury is now in the Banbury constituency, not Witney. I have heard that on the doorstep some still did not know of this change...)