Labour in tactical voting call in British polls, FT backs Tories
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
LONDON, May 4 (AFP): Britain's ruling Labour Party signalled Tuesday its supporters should use their votes tactically in this week's election, as the Financial Times declared its support for the opposition Conservatives.
As it fights to win back ground just 48 hours from polling day, senior party figures suggested Labour supporters could back the centrist Liberal Democrats in areas where the poll battle is tight to keep the Tories out.
Britain's election is being fought at a handful of marginal seats where persuading voters is crucial to success in Thursday's election.
The call came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron, and leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, geared up for a penultimate day of campaigning in the closest election for decades.
Ed Balls -- one of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's closest lieutenants -- said: "I always want the Labour candidate to win.
"But I recognise there's an issue in places like... where my family live, where a (Liberal Democrat candidate) is fighting the Tories, who are in second place. And I want to keep the Tories out," he told the New Statesman magazine.
In seats where the Conservatives and Labour were fighting close-run battles, Balls said Lib Dem supporters should "bite their lip" and vote Labour.
Another Cabinet minister, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, dropped a similar hint when he told the Independent newspaper that people should "vote with their heads, not their hearts."
Labour, fighting to be re-elected to a historic fourth term after 13 years in office, trails several points behind the Conservatives. Latest polls showed Brown's party in second place, just ahead of the Lib Dems.
The call for tactical voting came as the the Financial Times announced it was supporting the Conservatives the first time since 1987.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday he would take 'full responsibility' if his party loses the May 6 general election, as ministers urged tactical voting to keep the Conservatives out.
With polls showing Brown's Labour is heading for defeat on Thursday after 13 years in office, the embattled premier insisted there was still all to play for as thousands of voters had not yet made up their minds.
But his comments -- plus the call from two ministers for Labour supporters to vote tactically for the Liberal Democrats in some seats -- are being seen as an admission of how much ground Labour must make up in two days to win.
As it fights to win back ground just 48 hours from polling day, senior party figures suggested Labour supporters could back the centrist Liberal Democrats in areas where the poll battle is tight to keep the Tories out.
Britain's election is being fought at a handful of marginal seats where persuading voters is crucial to success in Thursday's election.
The call came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron, and leader of the centrist Liberal Democrats, Nick Clegg, geared up for a penultimate day of campaigning in the closest election for decades.
Ed Balls -- one of Prime Minister Gordon Brown's closest lieutenants -- said: "I always want the Labour candidate to win.
"But I recognise there's an issue in places like... where my family live, where a (Liberal Democrat candidate) is fighting the Tories, who are in second place. And I want to keep the Tories out," he told the New Statesman magazine.
In seats where the Conservatives and Labour were fighting close-run battles, Balls said Lib Dem supporters should "bite their lip" and vote Labour.
Another Cabinet minister, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, dropped a similar hint when he told the Independent newspaper that people should "vote with their heads, not their hearts."
Labour, fighting to be re-elected to a historic fourth term after 13 years in office, trails several points behind the Conservatives. Latest polls showed Brown's party in second place, just ahead of the Lib Dems.
The call for tactical voting came as the the Financial Times announced it was supporting the Conservatives the first time since 1987.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday he would take 'full responsibility' if his party loses the May 6 general election, as ministers urged tactical voting to keep the Conservatives out.
With polls showing Brown's Labour is heading for defeat on Thursday after 13 years in office, the embattled premier insisted there was still all to play for as thousands of voters had not yet made up their minds.
But his comments -- plus the call from two ministers for Labour supporters to vote tactically for the Liberal Democrats in some seats -- are being seen as an admission of how much ground Labour must make up in two days to win.