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George Monbiot suggests that Labour shouldn't be supported because they're now pushing right-wing policies, in his view.

So he thinks people should tactically support progressive parties who support electoral reform (Lib Dems, Greens, SNP, Plaid Cymru), which may hopefully then lead to electoral reform, so that we end up with proportional representation. Then Brits will have more choices than effectively just two parties for future elections.

Thoughts?

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[-] Pipster 18 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I don't think I could vote for Labour again in good conscience. I voted for them as the lesser of two evils but it has been nothing but betrayal. My fear is that doing this will allow the tories or ~~fascists~~ reform into power which will be utterly horrendous against the mildly lighter level of shitness we have now.

I joined the lib dems before when they were the big party against brexit and this time i will be joining the greens. I dont have any hope that things will change before the next election where I'll be forced to think about the implications of my vote but I'll cross that bridge when i come to it.

[-] Wimopy@feddit.uk 16 points 5 months ago

As others have mentioned, I don't think Labour will do well in the next election based on what they've been doing so far. So voting for "third" parties is inevitable. It's just a question of whether we can get a majority of progressives, or we just end up spread out and Reform sweeps the win.

I think maybe the ideal solution would be if the progressive parties formed some sort of coalition ahead of time, centred around electoral reform. Discuss who contests which seats, etc, and how they'd vote as a coalition.

Well the most ideal would be if they did that with the express purpose of getting electoral reform done and then calling a general election right after. That way even conservatives and right wingers might vote for them.

It really is past the time when Britain finally went through some actual changes.

[-] manicdave@feddit.uk 11 points 5 months ago

I kind of agree. I don't think we're getting PR any time soon. But Labours attempt to emulate the US two party model needs to be demonstrated to be a resounding failure.

[-] SleafordMod@feddit.uk 2 points 5 months ago

Yeah PR probably won't happen for years at least. I hope we get it at some point though.

[-] jabjoe@feddit.uk 10 points 5 months ago

My thoughts is that this is how Reform get in. Until we rid ourselves of FPTP, splitting the left vote so much means a Reform government. Until such time, we have to vote tactically. Vote to keep out the worst. Perfect is the enemy of the good.

If Labour put country before party, they would be killing of FPTP like the membership want.

[-] HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 9 points 5 months ago

Labour will not put country above party.

And the way things are. Not splitting the left vote is to late. The labour party has lost it. They have basically worked to reject it.

Actually continuing to encourage left wing voters to support labour is likely to split it worse then openly admitting labour is no longer looking for left wing support.

[-] jabjoe@feddit.uk 4 points 5 months ago

Labour have a good few years to get themselves together before an election.

I agree they are unlikely to do what the country needs, and membership wants, with voting reform. Maybe if they are sure they will lose and Reform would win. Doubt it even then though, because "we might still win".

If everyone can agree on another left party fine, but it will be split over Green, SNP, LibDems, Plaid and Labour. That's how we, a left leaning country, get endless right wing governments and their madness.

[-] blackn1ght@feddit.uk 8 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

So he thinks people should tactically support progressive parties who support electoral reform (Lib Dems, Greens, SNP, Plaid Cymru), which may hopefully then lead to electoral reform, so that we end up with proportional representation.

I've been doing this most of my voting-age life. Electoral reform for me personally is the most important issue.

[-] SpaceShort@feddit.uk 6 points 5 months ago

Right now, we should:

  1. Vote for other parties than Labour in opinion polls, that is, for genuinely progressive parties
  2. Vote for other parties than Labour in local elections

We should drive momentum away from Labour far ahead of the next general election such that the general public view an alternative coalition as more likely to win a general election than Labour and so encourage a broad switch.

[-] geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml 1 points 5 months ago

This is how you will end up with Trump. You need to abandon the Labour ship as fast as possible.

[-] Blackmist@feddit.uk 2 points 5 months ago

Sounds like a good way to end up with King Nigel, unfortunately.

[-] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 1 points 5 months ago

When you guys figure it out, please tell the US. They don't seem to get it.

this post was submitted on 27 May 2025
62 points (100.0% liked)

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