Campaign group issues tactical voting advice to ‘stop Reform’ in city council elections
HAVE YOUR SAY: A polling station in Pearson Park, Hull, in 2022
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
An organisation that campaigns to “stop Reform” has issued tactical voting advice for all but one of the 19 seats up for election to Hull City Council next week.
A third of the council’s 57 seats will be contested when voters go to the polls on Thursday, May 7, in what could be one of the most consequential Local Elections in years.
The Liberal Democrats have been in power at the Guildhall since 2022 but currently have a majority of just one seat. The Lib Dems will be defending 11 seats and Labour eight in an election in which Reform UK and the Green Party will field candidates in every seat in the city for the first time.
A website run by Forward Democracy, which encourages people to “vote tactically to defend our democracy from right wing parties” is urging people in Hull to vote for Lib Dem candidates in 13 seats and for Labour in five.
Its recommendations by seat are:
Avenue: Lib Dem
Bricknell: Lib Dem
Drypool: Lib Dem
Marfleet: Labour
Orchard Park: Labour
St Andrew’s & Docklands: Labour
West Carr: Lib Dem
Beverley & Newland: Lib Dem
Central: Lib Dem
Holderness: Lib Dem
Newington & Gipsyville: “advice pending”
Pickering: Lib Dem
Sutton: Lib Dem
Boothferry: Lib Dem
Derringham: Lib Dem
Longhill & Bilton Grange: Lib Dem
North Carr: Labour
Southcoates: Labour
University: Lib Dem
Commenting on the advice, Councillor Mike Ross, leader of the city council, said: “Across many parts of the city, the Labour vote has completely collapsed, and it is a clear choice between the Lib Dems and Reform.
“If you want to beat Reform and elect a local champion who will work hard for you, then vote Liberal Democrat, as this advice says.
“Reform has shown its true colours in this election. They have at least four candidates who don’t live in Hull and a candidate in Sutton with an incredibly questionable social media history.
“The best way to stop Reform UK in Hull is to follow this clear independent advice.
“It’s clear Reform UK are not interested in making Hull a cleaner, safer and more welcoming place to live, instead, they just want to further Nigel Farage’s divisive politics.”
Councillor Daren Hale, leader of the opposition Labour group on the council, said: “We completely share the concerns many residents feel about a potential Reform win in these elections, and understand the wish to vote tactically to prevent this happening.
“However, people in Hull should be wary about tactical voting advice being dished out by unreliable or misleading sources: one such website being shared currently suggests voting Lib Dem in some wards currently held by Labour, even though the Lib Dems are not in play in these areas. This can only mean a split vote, and a Reform win.
“Labour will continue campaigning positively across Hull right up until 10pm on the 7th of May, and we ask all residents to help prevent a divisive and dangerous Reform win in this election.”
The full list of candidates standing in the election is available here.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and results are expected in the early hours of Friday, May 8.