A survey by YouGov for Compass has revealed that nine South East ‘tragedy seats’ could trigger a seismic shift in British politics as support for Proportional Representation (PR) reaches a new high.
79% want Labour to work with others and 56% want PR
Nine South East constituencies will become key battlegrounds at the next general election as mounting public support for a new political settlement threatens to trigger a seismic shift in British politics.
The news comes as a landmark campaign to transform British politics by finally delivering proportional representation was launched on 12 December.
‘Win as one’
Win As One, a new campaign from pressure group Compass, highlights 62 vulnerable seats across the country – including nine in the South East – where support for progressive parties outnumbered support for regressive parties at the last general election, but where the Tories still won.
These seats, labelled ‘tragedy’ seats by Compass, will be decisive in determining the outcome of the next general election, with Win As One focused on encouraging cross-party collaboration to help the best-placed progressive candidate win in each seat.
Seats in the south-east
The nine South East tragedy seats are:
- Reading West;
- Wokingham;
- Wycombe;
- Milton Keynes North;
- Lewes;
- Winchester;
- Esher and Walton;
- Guildford; and Woking
Win As One will seek to back progressive candidates who commit to Proportional Representation and electoral reform, with new data showing increasing support for an overhaul of our political system.
Growing frustration
A YouGov survey commissioned by Compass revealed growing frustration with our two-party system and its inability to deal with the crises engulfing the nation:
- 51% say on the critical issue of climate the system is unable to address the challenges we face
- 50% don’t think the system can address inflation and the economy
- 63% don’t believe it can address immigration and where some
- 63% starkly say our politics is failing on wealth inequality
- 64% say the system isn’t able to cope with the housing crisis.
This disillusionment with our political system has led to support for Proportional Representation (PR) reaching a new high, with 56% of the public now backing reform of our voting system, and 79% so fed up with the two-party system that they want a future Labour government to work with other parties.
Entirely new political system
The polling shows that a change in government from Conservatives to Labour isn’t enough; voters want an entirely new political system.
The message for Keir Starmer is clear: politics as normal is not an option, and Labour must reach across to other progressives to create a winning coalition that can transform our democracy.
Neal Lawson, spokesperson for Win as One said:
“The public is clear: our political system isn’t working, and it has to change. Whether on issues of climate, inequality or economic justice, voters think that our two-party system has failed them and is failing our future. They want a new way of doing politics and believe progressive parties should work together to win the next election and deliver real change.
“There is now an undeniable demand from the country not only for a new government, but a new political system.
“This polling stands as a clear warning and lesson to a Labour Party that is refusing to back PR and unwilling to work with others.
“This poll shows overwhelming voter dissatisfaction with the way the two-party system is failing. Ignoring this risks putting the party on the wrong side of the public … and history.”
For more information please contact:
Harry Gold, Compass Media and Press Officer
harry@compassonline.org.uk +44 (0) 7500 560643
Notes:
- The poll was undertaken for Compass by YouGov. Sample Size: 1568 Adults in England and Wales. Fieldwork: 25 – 28 November 2022
- The Win as One campaign hub can be found at www.winasone.org.uk
- This is a campaign aimed at England and Wales
- In return for their cooperation, The Green Party and other smaller parties and their voters must be incentivised and rewarded
- There will be more than one tactical vote recommendation site – what matters is that they are aligned and aware of local issues
- No specific form of PR system is being advocated by #WinAsOne – but it must be PR
- No method of legislating for PR is being advocated, other than winning a necessary Commons majority for change
- The campaign strikes a balance between candidates backing change and those that can win
- The more candidates back change, the more support they get
- This is a campaign initiated by Compass, the pressure group for a good society, but is an ‘open source’ campaign that will encourage local groups to develop their own demands as well as the central demands of PR and cross-party cooperation
