Voting for smaller parties in the North East could let the Conservatives in through the back door.
Joy turning to stress. Excitement to anxiety. This coming general election is pivotal. We have so much to gain and everything to lose. Seeing the state our country is in, the flaming wreckage that was once our nation, it makes me weep. It makes me cry out with despair and scream with rage. Can we really afford another five years of the Conservatives? What can we do to stop this?
Tactical voting
Up and down the country, our First Past the Post voting system means that we are always faced with a straight choice be it between the Conservatives and Labour or, in some cases, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. Sometimes the smaller parties stand a chance; the Green Party in Brighton or UKIP in Clacton nine years ago, but that is rare. Let’s be honest, it doesn’t happen often for the Liberal Democrats either.
Here in the North East, it’s a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives. In every single seat from North Northumberland to Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. The Liberal Democrats don’t stand a chance. Nor do the Green Party. And neither do Reform UK. If you want to kick Rishi Sunak out of office, you must vote Labour! There is no other way.
North Northumberland
My own constituency and its neighbour Hexham both have three things in common; They have never had a Labour MP; they are represented by Conservative MPs, and they have a big chance of ousting those Conservative MPs. Anne-Marie Trevelyan is my local MP and, regardless of party, she is awful. I have only ever seen her around the constituency for photo ops, she has made major ministerial contributions to Britain’s decline and the cost of living crisis and she wheels out the issue of dualling the A1 as an election soundbite. Like “take back control” and “get Brexit done”, “dual the A1” are her specially weaponised words to wage war with in elections.
Once upon a time it was the Liberal Democrats who kept her and her Conservative comrades at bay but those days are long over. Once upon a time Labour was third place, not getting a look in. But the tables have turned and now Labour are the main challengers to the Conservatives in North Northumberland and have been since 2017. The more votes Labour get in my rural constituency, the bigger the potential of one less Conservative MP. And one less Conservative MP means one less chance for a Conservative government.
Confession time
OK, so as I write this, I am a member of the Labour Party. I still will be after it is written. But don’t get me wrong. I’m not writing this with my Labour hat on but instead I am looking at things through an objective lens.
I fully respect every party’s right to stand. I fully respect everyone’s differing politics, I think we all do. Myself in particular, I relish it. It makes elections so much more exciting and democracy so much more meaningful. I also recognise that smaller parties are capable of winning. Green and independent councillors across England including in my own county. A Green MP in Brighton. And of course, the North East Metro Mayor election ending up as a contest not between Labour and the Conservatives but between Labour and an independent candidate.
But this general election is different. Across all 27 constituencies in the North East, it is a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives. Voting Liberal Democrat or Green will split the vote. It will allow the Conservatives to get in through the back door. Maybe not in Newcastle but certainly in North Northumberland. And for those who say that it’s a forgone conclusion, you couldn’t be more wrong! Not a single vote has been cast yet. Nothing is set in stone. Everything is still to play for.
I know many reading this will think I’m biased. Maybe I am in some respects. But not in this article. The truth is simple. I’m merely saying it as it is. In the North East, it is a straight fight between Labour and the Conservatives. I want the Conservatives out first and foremost. I know the Liberal Democrats and Greens do too. In the North East the way to do that is to vote Labour. Put aside party loyalties and vote Labour to kick out the Conservatives. The question is: will you?
