People’s Vote campaign mounts tactical voting drive in 100 seats in bid to oust pro-Brexit MPs
3 min read
Remain voters will be told to ‘hold their noses’ and vote tactically across 100 marginal seats in a bid to oust pro-Brexit MPs in the event of a snap general election.
The People’s Vote campaign - the driving force behind bidding for a second EU referendum - has crafted a list of target seats where Remainers will be urged to set aside their traditional party loyalties to help install MPs vying for a second vote.
The effort which apply across England, Scotland and Wales aims to boost the number of pro-People’s Vote MPs in Parliament and oust those who oppose another public poll.
According to the Observer, an internal strategy paper written by the People’s Vote director James McGrory says that tactical voting will be a “bigger factor” than in any other previous UK election.
Key seats targeted include Richmond – where pro-Brexit MP Zac Goldsmith holds a majority of 45 over the Lib Dems - and former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith’s seat in Chingford and Woodford Green, where he holds a majority of 2,438 over Labour.
The document also details how teams will be set up for each marginal seat on the list, and that voters will be targeted online.
“In some cases we will be asking Labour supporters to vote for other parties such as the Liberal Democrats. In many others we will be asking supporters of the Liberal Democrats, the Greens or others to vote Labour,” Mr McGrory said.
“This is based on nothing more than the hard-headed acknowledgement of which party is best placed to beat an opponent of the people’s vote.”
He added: “But we recognise that we will be asking some of our supporters to ‘hold their noses’ and vote for a party they dislike.
“We hope this will be a one-off based solely on the importance of securing a democratic people’s vote on the most crucial issue of our generation.”
The campaign also stated it would not support Labour MPs or candidates who do not support a People’s Vote.
It will however work to defend sitting MPs backing a second referendum, such as Lib Dem’s Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran who holds a majority of 816.
The plan comes after a Remain alliance victory in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election on Thursday, which saw former Tory MP Chris Davies ousted by the Lib Dems after the Greens and Plaid Cymru stood aside to unify the Remain vote.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Express reports that Conservative MPs are pleading with the Brexit party not to field candidates in their constituencies.
According to the paper, Leave.EU founder Arron Banks says “at least 10” Conservative MPs have asked him to persuade Nigel Farage not to split the Brexit vote.
It adds Brexit party MEPs are calling for the Tories to offer an electoral pact.
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