Earlier today I received the following e mail message from Neal Lawson, the Chair of Compass, the left wing think tank, which discusses tactical voting, and suggests circumstances when Labour voters should use their votes to support the Liberal Democrats.    

Dear Friend –

As you may already know, over the last week we gave our members the decision as to whether Compass should advocate tactical voting in the forthcoming general election. For some the issue is obvious, a matter they have practised themselves for years. But for others, such a move hits hard against strongly held party loyalties. We do however have a very clear ballot result and I wanted our members and supporters to be the first to know.

The result of the ballot is that 72% (467) of members backed the call for tactical voting with only 14% (93) against. There were 14% (90) abstentions/spoilt papers. This is the biggest return we have ever had on an internal ballot – if you’re not yet a member of Compass and would like a vote next time and a full say in the organisation: then join now.

This means that Compass is now calling on every progressive voter to back the Labour candidate wherever Labour can win. But if Labour stands no chance against the Tory candidate it makes sense that the best placed progressive candidate is backed by every progressive voter.

To help inform your decision we have produced a key marginal seats information table based on the 2005 general election results, so that in each marginal you can make an informed decision as to who the best placed progressive candidate is. Click here to download it.

The key issue now is denying the Tories outright power, but in doing so recognising that power is likely to be shared. However much the parties have converged on the same space, and however much people have been disappointed by Labour in government, clear differences still exist between progressives and the Tories. Clearly the best hope of progressive politics, of something better than this, lies first in keeping the Tories out. Only then can we start the process of building a new politics in which greater democracy, equality and sustainability take us on the journey to the good society.

In the last week of the campaign new mood music has to be created in which a progressive alliance can come together to keep alive the possibility of a progressive century. If we are now in an era of three party politics then the party that fails to build a partnership condemns itself to the wilderness. As well as emphasising policies to get its core vote out, like interest rate caps, uprating the minimum wage, a living wage for public sector workers and the fact that the state still matters, Labour must show it is ready to deal with a hung parliament and now willing to have a referendum on a more proportional voting system than just AV.

Compass will continue to ensure it is our members that make the big calls – and there will no doubt be more ballots in the future.  I know some will be disappointed with the result and I understand why.  Compass sees the Labour Party as a necessary but insufficient vehicle in the creation of the good society.  We know the progressive alliance we seek means working inside and outside of Labour – with all the creative tensions that position entails.  Sometimes we will be too Labour for some tastes, other times not Labour enough – but it is the ability to be inside and out that gives us our strength.  Bear with us, it is the right course.

Over the coming weeks and months there are likely to be more tough decisions Compass is going to face.  But now all that matters is to turn out the progressive vote and avoid the divisions that gave the Tories power throughout the 1980s.  If we can stop them winning they will implode for a generation.  In a post crash world this is an election the centre-left should and must win.  Use your vote wisely and campaign as never before to get others to do the same.  Britain does need change – but what it doesn’t need is the same old Tories.

Neal
Chair, Compass

P.S: Whatever the result next Thursday, progressive politics needs to be fundamentally renewed. Join hundreds of other progressive activists who share your hopes and dreams for the future at our National Conference A New Hope on Saturday 12 June in London. Click here to register now for just £20: http://www.compassonline.org.uk/conference/register.asp

Our canvas results in the Great Grimsby constituency suggest that support for Labour vote has collapsed since the 2005 election. 

If you are normally a Labour voter, who no longer supports their candidate in the Local or General you can still vote against the Conservatives by giving your support to the Liberal Democrats. Just remember - if you do not vote at election time YOU COULD LET THE CONSERVATIVES WIN

The Guardian newspaper has decided to endorse the Liberal Democrats, saying:

“If the Guardian had a vote it would be cast enthusiastically for the Liberal Democrats. But under our discredited electoral system some people may – hopefully for the last time – be forced to vote tactically”

You can read the rest of the editorial article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/30/the-liberal-moment-has-come

In tonight’s Party Election Broadcast Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said:

“You can have a better life. We don’t simply need to choose from the old choices of the past,”

The Party Election Broadcast stars members of the public that have signed up as supporters of the Liberal Democrats through Facebook.

The party has seen a huge surge in support on social networking sites since the start of the election campaign.

Nick Clegg now has more than 50,000 fans on Facebook, up from little over 13,000 before the first debate. His followers on Twitter have more than doubled, from just under 14,000 to more than 30,000, since the first debate.

The party’s official Facebook page has nearly 75,000 fans, an increase of more than 300% since the first debate.

An independent Facebook group, We got Rage Against the Machine to #1, we can get the Lib Dems into office!, has nearly 160,000 members.

Speaking in the broadcast, Nick Clegg said:

“Something exciting is happening. People are beginning to believe, beginning to hope they can do something different this time.

“Of course there are people who will try to block change. Of course there are people who are spreading fear to stop the change that you want.

“I think they’re wrong. I think if we do things differently we can have the fair country you want.

“You can have a better life. We don’t simply need to choose from the old choices of the past.

“We don’t need to repeat the mistakes of the past.

“Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be different this time. It can.”

You can watch the Party Election Broadcast by clicking on the picture below:

Nick Clegg launcheds an attack on the Labour Party at a rally in Leicester, saying:

“This election campaign in now boiling down to a simple choice: a two-horse race between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats.

“The Labour Party have presided over a decline in public trust, in politics, the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades. They’ve destroyed our civil liberties on an industrial scale.”

We are now in the final week of the election campaign. We still need your help to bring real change to British politics. Nick’s message: don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be different.

You can make the difference

We have now entered the final stages of the 2010 general election. There are only a few days left before the polls open on May 6th. We have to re-double our efforts to turn all that we have achieved into votes on polling day.

Over the past few weeks we’ve had a clear, consistent message on the key issue of fairness – fair tax, a fair start for children, a fair and sustainable economy and fair politics. Read more >

If you’re not already helping out with your local campaign, there is still plenty of time to offer a hand and volunteer.

Print out one of our posters to put up in your window at home or work – the more people see support for the Liberal Democrats, the better. And any contribution you can afford to boost our campaign in the final week will make a huge difference.

You can make the difference

Our Party Election Broadcast

In our party election broadcast Nick highlights how far we have come over the past few weeks. The political landscape has changed and we have a real chance to change the way politics is done in Britain. This video is the first of its kind to feature our supporters from Facebook.

Nick highlights our plans, pledges and promises to you. If you’ve not yet seen it, you can watch it here. Please share it with family and friends.

“This is not the time for banks to be complaining about tighter regulatory controls, it is the time for them to be lending to good British businesses,” said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor.

Commenting on a leaked report from PriceWaterhouseCoopers on behalf of major banks warning that the impact of measures to tighten regulation of the banking sector risks a double-dip recession, Vince Cable said:
 
“Given the scale of the bailout the financial sector has received from the taxpayer, this kind of scaremongering from the City is simply whingeing.
 
“Most UK banks are now holding capital far in excess of regulatory requirements and continue to pay out huge bonuses while starving solid small and medium size businesses of credit. Banks need to understand that they cannot go back to business as usual.
 
“This is not the time for banks to be complaining about tighter regulatory controls, it is the time for them to be lending to good British businesses to safeguard the recovery and safeguard people’s jobs.”

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has said this morning that he was “so excited” to be out of the TV studios and campaigning again.

Nick told a crowd of students at De Montfort University in Leicesterthe election is now “a two-horse race” between his party and the Conservatives, adding:.

“We have a huge opportunity to change things for good.,”

The Lib Dem leader said it looked set to be “the most exciting general election campaign in a generation”,and he said voters had to decide who they trust to “deliver the change and fairness” they want, and claimed his party offered “real change, not fake change”.

Mr Clegg spoke to students against a backdrop of three “vote Labour” placards, which were being held up by onlookers.

There was laughter and a cheer as one of the three was grabbed by a member of the crowd, screwed up into a ball and thrown away.

Mr Clegg looked around, laughed, shook his head and continued addressing the students.

Earlier today on BBC Breakfast the former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown said the party should brace itself for “a stream of scaremongering, innuendoes, smears” from the Conservatives between now and polling day on Thursday, but Mr Clegg had already ensured people had “perhaps a once-in-a-generation opportunity to vote for real change in this country”

Last night saw Nick Clegg go head to head with Gordon Brown and David Cameron in the third and final Leader’s Debate broadcast on BBC1.

Last night was the final of the three televised Leaders’ debates. Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, debated with Gordon Brown and David Cameron about the economy. Subjects discussed included breaking up the banks, creating more jobs and reinvigorating the British economy.

If you didn’t see the debate last night, you can watch it online here.

Nick Clegg’s opening statement 

In his opening statement at the final leaders’ debate, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:

“Tonight’s debate is about you – about your job, the taxes you pay, your family, the prosperity of our country.
 
“We need to do things differently to build a new, stronger, fairer economy.

“The way they got us into this mess is not the way out. 
 
“So we need to be frank about where cuts are needed – so that we can protect things like schools and hospitals.
 
“We need to break up our banking system so that irresponsible bankers can never again put your businesses and your savings at risk.
 
“We have to rediscover our passion for innovation, for building things, not just placing bets on the money markets.
 
“We need fairer taxes, so that you don’t pay any income tax on your first £10,000.
 
“Of course, they’ll tell you tonight that these things can’t be done.
 
“But I think we’ve got to do things differently – to deliver the fairness, the prosperity, the jobs which you and your families deserve.”

Nick Clegg’s closing statement 

In his closing statement at the final leaders’ debate, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg said:

“Everything I’ve said during these three television debates is driven by my simple belief that if we do things differently this time, we can create a fairer, better Britain.
 
“As you decide how to cast your vote, of course you’ll be told by these two, that real change is dangerous, that it can’t be done.
 
“Don’t let anyone scare you from following your instincts.
 
“Together next week we can change Britain for good.
 
“Just think how many times you’ve been given lots of promises by these two old parties – only to discover when they get into Government that nothing really changes.
 
“We can do so much better than that this time.
 
“Of course I can’t guarantee that every problem you face will be solved overnight.
 
“But I can guarantee that I will work tirelessly to deliver greater fairness for you.
 
“Fairer taxes, so that you pay less but people at the top pay their fair share.

“A fair start, smaller class sizes, for your children.

“A different approach to the economy.

“And open, decent politics which you can trust once again.
 
“I believe all this can happen.
 
“This is your election. This is your country.

“When you go to vote next week, choose the future you really want.
 
“If you believe like I do that we can do things differently this time, then together we will really change Britain.
 
“Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t happen. It can.

“This time, you can make the difference.”

 I have received notice of a film on foxhunting that will be shownshown at the Hotel Elizabeth at 7.30 on 5th May, and I am sure that some readers would be interested:

Dear Les,A small group of local individuals have banded together to bring to Grimsby a screening of an independent film called A Minority Pastime. 

This film is a detailed account of fox hunting and given David Cameron’s vow to repeal the Hunting Act should he be elected as PM we feel that it is particularly relevant for this film to be shown at this time. Not, I hasten to add, as an attempt to tell people who to vote for at the forthcoming general election but simply to inform them that this particular piece of legislation is under threat in the hope that people of all political persuasions who agree that there is no place for blood sports in a civilized society will bring pressure to bear to ensure that the Hunting Act remains in place.The film will be shown on Wednesday 5th May 2010 at 7.30pm at the Hotel Elizabeth, Littlecoates Road, Grimsby and you are cordially invited to attend the screening.

Mr Cable dismissed David Cameron’s criticism of Liberal Democrat immigration plans last night, saying Conservative plans to introduce an annual immigration cap would not stem spiralling immigration figures.

“David Cameron is planning a cap on the number of workers, he is not proposing to control the number of dependent immigrants, or students or asylum seekers”, he said.

Mr Cable repeated the Liberal Democrats’ current position that the economic conditions are not right for British adoption of the Euro, but insisted it was shortsighted to rule out future entry altogether.

“We never argued in recent years that this was an appropriate time to join the Euro, particularly in the middle of the upheaval that we’ve got at the moment – but it’s foolish to propose what David Cameron has and rule it out forever”.