Parties in tactical voting call
Adam Hewitt • Published 5 May 2010 20:00
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LABOUR and Lib Dem voters in Reading East are being urged by their parties to vote tactically to beat incumbent Rob Wilson.
Lib Dem Gareth Epps points to an analysis by the Guardian newspaper which says the seat is one of three in the country that "could fall to Liberal Democrats, with Labour supporters' voting power".
He added: "This is just the latest indication that the choice in Reading East for those who do not want to see the Conservatives elected is to vote Liberal Democrat. We have reached out beyond areas of historical Lib Dem support, and our campaign has caught the public mood in the same way Nick Clegg's vision and leadership has nationally."
His party came third in 2005 with 10,619 votes compared to Labours' 15,082 and the Tories' 15,557, but national polls suggest Labour's vote could be eclipsed by the Lib Dems in Reading East. There have also been boundary changes since 2005 which could boost the Tories at Labour's expense as parts of Labour-dominated Battle and Whitley wards were moved into Reading West.
But Labour candidate Anneliese Dodds said: "This is a watershed election, and voters in Reading who don't want to see a Conservative Government - which is most voters in both Reading East and West - only need to look at the figures to know the only way they can stop that is by voting Labour.
"The Guardian itself, while supporting the Liberal Democrats, urges voters in Labour-Conservative marginals to vote Labour so as not to 'let in an anti-reform Tory Party' and that applies to both Reading constituencies.
"In 2005 enough people voted Lib Dem in Reading East to let the Tories in. I hope they don't make the same mistake this time."
Tory candidate Mr Wilson said: "The choice couldn't be clearer: five more years of Gordon Brown's tired Government making things worse, or the Conservatives with the energy, leadership and values to get the country moving again.
"Only a vote for Conservatives will change things - a hung Parliament would mean Gordon Brown and Labour can carry on."
The other candidates in Reading East are the Green Party's Rob White, UKIP's Adrian Pitfield, independent candidate Joan Lloyd and independent candidate Michael Turberville.
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BGarvie
Unregistered User
May 6, 14:45
Report commentThe electorate should vote for what they believe in. Ignore Labour's call for Lib/Dems to vote tactically because it is only to Labour's advantage. You can be sure Labour will remain the dominant partner and betray the Liberals as soon as they hold office. Brown is like a convicted arsonist pleading with the electorate for another chance to use a full box of matches. He has already burned our pensions, savings, jobs, businesses and economy. Under our constitutional rules in a hung Parliament scenario, even if Brown comes in third, as sitting PM, he will have squatter's right to form a new minority Government. The thought of another five years of Brown is unacceptable.
The country needs urgent change to deal with this rapidly growing debt, (borrowing £54 MILLION per day) as large as Greece. It needs decisive Government with a strong mandate. Cameron's Conservatives are the only Party that can deliver.Rob Wilson and Alok Sharma are the only two candidates in Reading East & West that can help deliver real change the country is calling for. Brown and his untrustworthy bed-fellows have ruined our country. I am sure the majority of the astute electorate in Reading will Vote Conservative for real change.
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