Reform UK's mixed byelection results, including a disappointing second place in Makerfield and distant seconds in Gorton and Denton, raise concerns for Nigel Farage. Issues include candidate selection, vulnerability to tactical voting, and competition from the right.
Reform UK's mixed byelection results, including a disappointing second place in Makerfield, raise concerns for Nigel Farage. Issues with candidate selection, tactical voting, and a new right-wing competitor, Restore Britain, highlight challenges for the party.
Tactical voting is key for Labour's Andy Burnham in Makerfield, with Green and Lib Dem supporters backing him. Reform's rival, Restore Britain, faces a challenge as its voters are less willing to switch, potentially splitting the right-wing vote.
The Aberdeen South by-election on June 18 is a pivotal contest on North Sea oil politics. Reform UK and Scottish Conservatives are campaigning on reviving oil and gas production, challenging the SNP's net zero commitments. The outcome could signal a wider debate on the economic burden of net zero ahead of a UK general election.
The Green Party in Hackney, London expresses optimism ahead of local elections. Today in Focus host Helen Pidd interviews Hackney mayoral candidates, Green party canvassers, and undecided residents. Guardian's Peter Walker discusses tactical voting dynamics and challenges facing the Greens if polling proves accurate.
The Green Party in Hackney, London expresses optimism ahead of local elections. Today in Focus host Helen Pidd speaks with Hackney mayoral candidates, Green party canvassers, and undecided residents. Guardian senior political correspondent Peter Walker discusses tactical voting dynamics and potential challenges the Greens may face if polling proves accurate.
The Green Party in Hackney, London, expresses optimism ahead of local elections. Today in Focus host Helen Pidd interviews Hackney mayoral candidates, Green party canvassers, and residents considering their vote. Guardian senior political correspondent Peter Walker discusses tactical voting and potential challenges for the Greens if polls prove accurate.
A Full Fact investigation for the Guardian has found that election leaflets across England are making "grotesque" misleading claims about tactical voting using unreliable data, dodgy bar charts and national polling to suggest certain parties cannot win locally. Analysis of 331 leaflets from the first two weeks of April found 59 contained charts or graphics, with 14 being unsourced, misleading or failing to provide reliable evidence. Examples from Labour, Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Greens and Reform were flagged. Former YouGov chair Peter Kellner said spurious claims backed by unreliable data were becoming increasingly common, warning such practices were "bad for democracy".
A Full Fact investigation has revealed that political parties in England are distributing election leaflets containing misleading, unsourced, or cherry-picked data to influence tactical voting, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic trust.
