At the start of the 2024 election campaign, the Liberal Democrat strategy seemed to involve a lot of Ed Davey enacting eye-catching stunts – from paddleboarding to taking on watery obstacle courses. Then came a warm-hearted video about the leader’s life as a carer, first for his parents and then for his young son, highlighting Lib Dem social care policies. But while these moments may have cut through to voters, the party is also relying on something else to shore up its chances: tactical voting.
The Guardian’s senior political correspondent, Peter Walker, went out on the campaign trail with the party. He was struck by how it is weaponising disenchantment with the Tories to encourage voters who may prefer another party to vote for the Lib Dems as a more reliable way of keeping out Conservative MPs.
Michael Safi hears how tactical voting may be rising in popularity, what its rewards and risks may be, and why it could help the Lib Dems and the Green party – but not Reform UK – to win more seats.
Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images
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