‘Make sure your voice is heard’
Journalism student Shay Bottomley offers his thoughts on the pending General Election
December 12th will mark the first December election since 1910, which saw H.H. Asquith and the Liberals retain a majority with the support of the Irish Nationalists.
The December 1910 election was the last for eight years — on the contrary, this year’s trip to the polls is our third in half of that time.
There seems to be confidence on all sides of a strong result. For sure, this is another Leave/Remain vote on the European Union — a People’s Vote if you like — but on both sides there are divisions.
Arguably, the more-divided side is the Remain camp.
The Liberal Democrats have all-but abandoned their campaign for a second referendum, pledging to revoke Article 50 and stop Brexit altogether.
Moreover, despite his history of Euroscepticism, Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed that the Labour Party plan to negotiate another deal with the EU, which they will then put to another referendum.
Brexiteers are also facing a choice ahead of next month’s election; those who are satisfied with Boris’ Withdrawal Agreement are most likely to vote for the Conservatives. The staunchest opponents to the EU, who advocate a deal on WTO rules or may be frustrated with the Prime Minister’s broken promise of a Halloween Brexit, are likely to vote for Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party.
Collisions and Collusions
Talk of collusion began before the Bill to hold an election had even became law, yet it looks set to decide the way we vote on December 12th.
The Lib Dems, the Greens and Plaid Cymru have all agreed an election pact where the parties will not stand against each other in a number of seats to increase the chances of a pro-Remain candidate being elected. This is the only formal pact announced so far, although Nigel Farage has offered an agreement with the Tories to avoid splitting the Leave vote.
This strategical element to the election is having an impact on voters across the country. Right here in Portsmouth South, an exciting campaign is already underway which could, hypothetically, go either way.
A poll by Survation produced interesting results (pictured), with the Labour and Lib Dem candidates collecting over half of the vote share according to this poll. The pro-Leave parties collected 13 points less at 41%, however, an equal split between the Lib Dems and Labour could see the Conservative candidate being elected with as little as 27%.
Of course, that is not to say that an opinion poll will necessarily dictate the outcome of the final result. However, polls do influence the franchise, and the most devout Remainers may change their votes to ensure a candidate who opposes their views does not get elected, rather than a tick for the candidate who they believe represents their opinions best — tactical voting, in other words.
Tactical voting has always been a part of any democracy, a fact that will never change. Nevertheless, there seems to be a much higher focus on strategical votes than any election I have seen before. Perhaps that may be because I’m from a safe-seat — Maidenhead, where even the most inanimate of objects with a blue rosette can win a seat (sorry, Theresa!) — but there seems to be a sense of “who should I vote for?” rather than “who do I want to vote for?” which I think is a real shame.
For me, democracy should be about voting for the candidate who you believe would represent your views in parliament if elected. If we are in a position where we feel the need to vote against candidates rather than for them, then we should be asking questions of our democracy, and considering what changes should be made to reduce tactical voting in the future.
Therefore, my election campaign for everyone in the run-up to December 12th is simple:
1. Go to the polling station
2. Vote for the candidate who you believe will do the best job in parliament. If there isn’t one, spoil your ballot — your voice will still be heard.
