With the hours counting down to the close of registration for #GE2019 I would like to share some thoughts and a last minute plea for people to start thinking rationally, consider their actual objective, and act accordingly.

A thread...

This thread concerns the LibDems and Labour, tactical voting, and strategic alliances (or the lack thereof). Before starting I must stress that I am neither a member of the LibDems, Labour, or any other political party - my objective in this election is singular - to #StopBrexit

Recently there have been stories of alliances asked or not asked for, refusals to reciprocate, Prospective Parliament Candidates (PPC's) standing down for strategic reasons, parties replacing those PPC's for... reasons(?). Lots of ego, very little objective strategic thinking.

The LibDems are in a strange position. Polling, especially MRP (or RRP) suggests they have regained a respectable share of the vote and are once again contenders in a decent number of seats. However, being realistic, not enough to have a credible chance of winning a majority...

The core stated aim of the LibDems campaign is to #StopBrexit - and her where my complaint comes from: they are *not* making the right strategic choices to actually make that happen. Specifically, their policy of not standing down in certain seats where it would help Labour win.

LibDems could stand down in seats where they have no chance of winning i.e. less than 5 or 10% of the forecasted vote. This could prevent Tories winning several seats - several seats that could make a big difference.

If Labour fails to reciprocate (e.g. in the South West where the LibDems have a decent chance of winning several seats from the Tories) then they would be solely to blame if a Tory majority squeaks in.

LibDems digging their heels in and pouting that "if Labour won't stand down for us then we won't stand down for them" will make them equally to blame.

The LibDems have one core message at the centre of their campaign - to #StopBrexit - and they should be doing everything in their power to do that. Everything - not "everything except stand down for Labour unless they reciprocate even if doing so helps achieve their central aim".

I'm not saying Labour is blameless here. While there are reasons why they would not agree to do this formally, they should not be so hostile to idea and could be reciprocating... shall we say, using alternative means

e.g. persuading their candidates in LibDem swing seats (behind the scenes) to stand down at the last minute and, with the greatest regret, say that there wasn't enough time to select and register an alternative candidate.

It has been argued that Labour is more to blame for not reciprocating than the LibDems. That's a weak argument.

"we're not as bad as they are" is not the same as "we did everything we could".

This is an opportunity to be on the side of the angels, whereas right now they're settling on being the lesser of two evils. It's highly disappointing and just not good enough.

"We aren't standing down in return for nothing" is wrong - the LibDems are getting something in return. By standing down in close Tory-Labour constituencies they may not get Labour to reciprocate, but they do get something: one less Tory seat.

Regardless of the dynamics between LibDems and Labour, they mean nothing if the Tories get a majority.

Just looking at the polls it should be clear that is unlikely that Labour will win a clear majority - the best they can realistically hope for is to be a minority government with support from the other, smaller parties. Support that will inevitably be conditional on a referendum.

Believe me, I hold Labour just as much to blame and I'm making exactly the same argument with their supporters as I am with the LibDems: that every seat they stand down in (for example in the South West) is potentially one more seat denied to the Tories.

The sad thing is that it's arguably even more beneficial for Labour to stand down in seats where LibDems can challenge the Tories...

... but it is also more difficult to persuade them of this, for the following reasons:

1. Too many in Labour think they can win a majority (despite all the polls saying otherwise)

2. Labour feel they are a party of government. Anyone with a vote can remember a long period of Labour government and they feel they have a right to it (no party has a right to govern - they serve at the pleasure of the electorate)

3. The Labour constitution requires them to stand a candidate (I think - but even so it's not like they can't fail to select a candidate and get them registered to replace someone who has stood down at the last minute oops!)

4. Corbynistas are just rabid - it's so hard to penetrate their bubble and have a rational conversation without triggering a pile-on the moment they suspect you're not drinking the Kool-Aid (unlike LibDems who - at least outside of campaign season - are usually quite reasonable)

I, and many like-minded non-tribal people are trying to work both sides to, if not work together, then to at least work in their own interests (which happen to also benefit the other side).

Standing down in seats where it'll deny Tories a victory is simply playing to win. Refusing until the other side reciprocates is childish, stupid, and will lose this election to the Tories - and that will mean either a #HardBrexit, or worse, a #NoDealBrexit at the end of 2020.

So please, LibDems, and Labour, please please do what you have to do to maximise your chances of winning. Do this by standing down in seats to deny the to the Tories - not by tearing strips off each other.

Oh, and #StopBrexit. Cheers.