3 truths about tactical voting in North Somerset
I know many of you will be considering a tactical vote. As your Liberal Democrat candidate in the last General Election I proved the polls wrong by increasing the Lib Dem vote by over 80%, THIS TIME I CAN WIN. Here's why;
1. Lib Dems have come closest to winning
Our current Conservative MP, Liam Fox, has been elected 8 times. In 4 of those elections the Lib Dems came second. To win this time a successful candidate will need at least 35% of the vote, only the Lib Dems have ever achieved this, gaining 35.7% in 2010 .
The highest Labour achieved was 26.6% and at the last election Labours vote share fell (mine was up over 80%).
2. Lib Dems are winning again
In the past 24 months we have seen a Lib Dem become leader of North Somerset Council, the Lib Dems win back control of Somerset Council, and the Lib Dems return 2 new West Country MP’s to Parliament. Labour is the party of cities and the North, the Lib Dems are strong again here in the South West.
3. Conservative voters are more likely to vote Lib Dem
North Somerset has elected a Conservative MP for decades. Any successful challenger will need to attract a lot of former Conservative voters. As the party of centre ground the Lib Dems are more attractive to these voters, voters who may still remember Kier Starmer as the deputy to Jeremy Corbyn.