Politicians accused of 'deceit' for encouraging tactical voting

An Oxford Labour politician has accused the Liberal Democrats of "deceit" for allegedly encouraging people to vote tactically on election day tomorrow.

Labour city councillor Susanna Pressel is saying the Conservatives might come third in Oxford West and Abingdon as well as Didcot and Wantage despite the party having won the latter seat since 1924.

Ms Pressel referred to two polls from the Ipsos and Survation organisations which compiled the data ahead of the election. A Survation poll, updated on June 15, showed Victoria Prentis would be the only Tory MP who will keep her seat in Banbury -  but only narrowly.

Susanna Pressel. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

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Ms Pressel said: "The general election results in Oxfordshire are going to be exciting this time.

"The Conservatives are so deeply unpopular that they could lose all their seats, which would be a political earthquake.

"It is certainly not necessary for people in Oxford West and Abingdon to vote tactically. It was necessary 10 or 20 years ago, but that time is past.

Abingdon. (Image: Ed Nix)

"It is now a very safe seat for the Liberal Democrats. It is unfortunate that all the Liberal Democrat leaflets are still telling us that we need to vote Liberal Democrat in order to keep the Tories out.

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"This is completely untrue. I find it shocking that they are trying to deceive people in this way."

We approached Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrat incumbent MP Layla Moran for comment but did not receive a response.

Layla Moran. (Image: Jon Lewis.)

Conservative Oxfordshire County Council leader Eddie Reeves said: "There is a binary choice at this election, not only in Oxford but across Oxfordshire: a Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner-led government with covert plans to tax people's property and pensions or a Rishi Sunak and David Cameron-led government intent on building a more sustainable financial future.

"Labour voters in Bicester, Henley, Didcot, Abingdon and Oxford should all vote for who they want to run the country.

"Reform and Lib Dem-leaning voters concerned about tax hikes and greater insecurity at home and abroad should all vote Conservative."

Eddie Reeves. (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)

This comes as Conservative prime minister Rishi Sunak posted on X - formerly known as Twitter - earlier this week saying "Stop the supermajority. Vote Conservative on July 4" leading some to believe he had conceded defeat.

Ms Pressel said: "It looks as though the Conservatives may well be forced into third place in both Oxford West and Abingdon and in Didcot and Wantage.

"That would be a political earthquake.

"There would be no need for 'tactical voting to keep the Tories out', which is what some people have tended to do."