Anti-SNP tactical voting was key to LD making two constituency gains.
Despite the roughly 11% effective threshold in new Welsh, constituencies no sign that parties below that threshold were strategically deserted.
But there was a tactical swing from Lab, Grn and LD to PC to beat Reform.
My post on tactical voting at the local and devolved elections 2026:
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
No evidence of effective anti-Reform tactical switching by the left, so 50% of Reform gains were in places were most votes were for parties of the left....
'We need to future-proof the system... And we need explicitly to recognise and convince others of the fundamental merits of the democratic system, its fragility and of course that the alternatives are much worse.'
Meg Russell gave her valedictory lecture as Director last week.
Watch and listen đŸ‘‡
In the event of a Labour leadership election, most Labour members back Andy Burnham (59%) over Keir Starmer (37%)
yougov.com/en-gb/articl...
EVENT | What does the elections bill mean for the next general election?
đŸ“…Today, 12:30-13:30
Join us today as we discuss how lowering the voting age to 16 and restricting political donations could impact how elections are run.
Latest piece for the @financialtimes.com, on who gets to vote for a new Labour Prime Minister
www.ft.com/content/d2d9...
A bit on the gender divide in the Makerfield by election
And confirmation the GM by election would take place on July 30 (ie very quickly)
as.ft.com/r/d1d7ea16-9...
Tactical voting at the local and devolved elections 2026
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Steve Fisher
With the UK Party system fragmenting, tactical voting has become harder. There is little evidence of tactical voting in the local and devolved elections of 2026.
Professor Meg Russell gave a valedictory lecture at the Institute for Government on 12 May. A recording of this is now available on YouTube and in podcast form.
New Swingometer!
The Makerfield by-election: High risk, high return. I take a look at the seat on which this Parliament turns
open.substack.com/pub/swingome...
