Ayoub

This is not the election for protest votes. The stakes are far too high to be pulling a strop, no matter the reason. You see, for the first time, we could demote the Tories to third. Winning fewer seats than the LibDems would wipe them out as a political force. Several recent polls suggest this is within reach, as they have the LibDems within 2 or 3 seats of the Tories - but we desperately need tactical voting to get us over the line. Our choices are stark: A) 5 long years of the Tories in Opposition, pushing a hate-filled agenda of culture wars and immigrant-bashing. B) The LibDems in Opposition, holding Labour to account on the issues that matter, with the Tories fuming, impotent, on the back benches. There is no option C. One of the above will be our situation come 5 July. If the Tories are in Opposition as the 2nd largest party, they get: - 6 questions a week at PMQs - Guaranteed coverage from media outlets with "due impartiality" requirements - 17 Opposition Days to push their agenda and hold votes - Almost £1 million in extra Short Money - First right to reply to King's Speech and Budget - Privy council membership for senior figures - Office of the Leader of the Opposition with extra resources But all that will vanish if the LibDems come second instead! Without even the benefits of Opposition, the Tories would see their clout evaporate. No guaranteed media coverage. No loud voice. No seat at the table. Donors and supporters would flee in droves. It might take a while for the Tory party to die, but they'd be walking dead. If the LibDems were the Opposition, that would end the conspiracy of silence on Brexit. It would be in their interest to talk about it, given the mood of the country. And they would have the platform to do so, and to get noticed. Single market & customs union membership, even rejoining the EU, would be back on the table. Not immediately. Of course not. But we would be able to start having the critical conversations both main parties have been dodging until now. PR too would be up for discussion. All sorts of things would. They wouldn't be mired in the sort of hate rhetoric guaranteed to haunt a Tory Opposition. But none of this will happen without intense pragmatism. Angry? Jaded? Frustrated? Fed up with politics? Take a deep, deep breath and park your feelings at the door. Set all other considerations aside and focus on the real prize this election. We'll never get another chance to wipe the Tories out. All the stars have lined up: - Widespread fury at 14 years of misrule - Endless scandals, from PPE to Brexit mismanagement to Partygate - Reform UK offering a protest vote outlet to RW voters who would never consider the LibDems, Greens or Labour - Resurgent LibDems And the factor that makes this election cycle an unbeatable opportunity: a dire Tory election campaign, maybe the worst in their history. D-Day, Sky TV, inside bets on the election date - you name it, they've blown it. Gaffe after gaffe after gaffe. We have to pounce. To try, as hard as we can. If we fail, so be it. But at least we will be able to say we tried. To kick the Tories into third, vote tactically for whichever party is best placed to defeat them in YOUR constituency. An election is won locally, regardless of national polls. Focus on the situation in your area. For the very latest tactical voting advice, taking account of recent polls and other local factors, see: stopthetories.vote Compare tactical advice at: inglesp.github.io/apogee/tac… Eyes on the prize. Hold your nose. Vote tactically, and rally others to do the same.