What is #ABTV? Another pro-European hashtag explained
In what has become a little bit of a mini-series, after having explained the pro-European hashtags #FBPE and #WATON, this week it is time to explain what #ABTV is about.
This hashtag stands for Anti-Brexit Tactical Voting. It was started on January 12, 2018 by AC Grayling:
Anti-Brexit Tactical Voting #ABTV retweet widely RT
— A C Grayling #FBPE 3.5% #Reform #Rejoin #FBPA 🐟 (@acgrayling) January 12, 2018
One of the issues it runs into is quite who counts as an anti-Brexit candidate deserving of such tactical voting support. Even Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate ranks in 2017 included at least one out and out pro-Leave person, whilst the bigger and pointed issue is with Labour.
There are definitely anti-Brexit people in Labour. Their support of that position is to be welcomed and encouraged. But their leader is not only someone who for years voted with the Tory right wing Eurosceptics such as John Redwood but who also sacked Labour frontbenchers for voting against Britain leaving the single market.Cross-party cooperation in various forms to oppose Brexit has much to commend it. Whether a cross-party anti-Brexit tactical voting campaign can overcome the controversies involved in deciding who to support is a much more open question.
UPDATE:
Mark.
The actual #ABTV strategy is ACTUALLY to vote in local elections for pro-EU PARTIES (regardless of individual candidates' Brexit stance).
Thus, The Tories, Labour, and (obviously) Ukip candidates should be disregarded. You then choose the most-likely-to-win pro-EU PARTY
— ABTV HQ #ABTV #FBPE #MVM (@ABTVHQ) February 4, 2018
So in my Ward there is no Lib Dem and no Green standing. My choice is UKIP, Tory and Labour. What now? Spoil my ballot paper?
I also want an answer to Richard’s problem. I was initially tempted just to spoil my ballot paper but now I’m thinking votes for the second most likely to win party might unseat the current jokers who in my town happen to be Labour.