Labour and the Liberal Democrats are said to be looking at a tactical voting scheme aimed at blocking Nigel Farage and Reform UK from securing victory at the next general election.
Behind-the-scenes preparations have commenced on the necessary infrastructure, including websites and communications strategies, to help progressive voters cast ballots for whichever candidate stands the best chance of defeating Reform in their constituency.
Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green and other left-wing MPs are convinced that encouraging supporters to back candidates outside their usual preference could prove decisive in keeping Mr Farage out of Downing Street.
A Liberal Democrat MP highlighted the potential to organise anti-Reform tactical voting in the same manner that anti-Tory coordination operated at the previous election.
The emerging progressive alliance is expected to remain informal rather than involving official pacts where parties withdraw candidates from specific seats.
Instead, party headquarters will be “judicious” about where they concentrate their campaign efforts, effectively clearing the way for rivals with stronger prospects in particular constituencies.
That strategy saw the Lib Dems take 71 seats, and Labour securing a commanding majority of 174 with 411 MPs.
A senior Liberal Democrat MP explained the rationale: “Definitely, there is appetite out there to stop Reform. I’m picking that up on doors all the time, I’m getting asked about it all the time: ‘the question is, how do we stop Reform?'”
Left-wing MPs are plotting an electoral alliance to block Nigel Farage and Reform UK from power
| PA
“What we always try and do and a lot of this is just common sense we target our resources and everyone understands that.
“To an extent, parties get out of the way for the other where they see that there is a more credible challenge it will be fairly common sense,” the MP told The i Paper.
Green Party of England and Wales leader Zack Polanski has also indicated openness to an electoral arrangement with Labour to block Mr Farage, though only if Sir Keir Starmer is replaced as leader.
The anti-Brexit campaign group Best for Britain’s tactical voting website, where they set out plans to unseat Conservative MPs, attracted more than six million visits during the 2024 campaign.
