Dear John

Best for Britain’s latest MRP poll shows opposition parties must work together to achieve a majority at the next election. 

Our representative 10,000-sample poll and data analysis shows that in the likeliest scenario, where Reform UK (the Brexit Party’s new name) stands down to help the Conservatives, it would take a pact between Labour, Lib Dems and Greens to win a majority.  

Cooperation is currently the only route to replacing this corrupt Government. And it’s our only chance of getting a new one that would change our unfair voting system. Will you add your name to our petition and urge the opposition parties to work together to oust this Government at the next election?

The rallying cry for opposition parties to work together is catching on. This weekend, the Observer featured our new poll with an urgent call for progressive parties to play the regressive alliance at their own game. The Telegraph also picked up the story that a formal election pact could ‘hand Keir Starmer the keys to number 10’

Best for Britain’s new polling shows that if Reform UK stands aside for the Conservatives in key seats (which they have done previously under the banners of UKIP and the Brexit Party), Labour will fail to secure an overall majority at the next election, winning just 307 seats, leaving Labour reliant on the SNP to form a Government:

But if the Lib Dems and the Greens work with Labour in a minority of English seats, even if 100% of Reform UK votes transfer to the Conservatives, Labour will still win enough seats to form a coalition Government with the Lib Dems and the Greens:

Our previous polling from October 2021 firmly refuted the myth that when the Lib Dems stand aside, their votes transfer to the Conservatives. Labour voters are twice as likely to back the Lib Dem candidate than the Conservative candidate where Labour doesn’t stand, Lib Dem voters are three times as likely to back Labour than the Conservatives, and the Greens five times as likely. 

And our new polling proves voters for all three parties want the party leaders to work together with 54% of Labour voters, 56% of Lib Dem voters and 76% of Green voters all agreeing Keir Starmer and Ed Davey should work more closely with the Green Party’s leaders.

General elections are decided by the arcane first past the post system - and this can mean that a party can often win a majority of seats without getting the most votes. While our electoral system remains stuck in the past, it’s vital that our opposition parties put aside tribalism and do what needs to be done.

We know that far-right regressive parties make deliberate choices to stand aside for the Conservatives - and we saw this happen in 2017 and 2019. So why aren’t our progressive parties giving themselves and good Government a chance? They should know what they’re up against. 

If we can get this Government out, we will be doing the right thing for Britain. The opposition parties need to heed the data and recognise that their duty lies in delivering a better democracy with a fairer voting system - and there is a clear path for them to do this if they’re willing to take it.

Best wishes,

Cary Mitchell
Director of Operations, Best for Britain

P.S. Support Best for Britain’s vital work providing the opposition with cutting-edge data and analysis, become a Fellow Traveller with £10 a month. You’ll receive a free gift and access to exclusive events and content.