The Green voter who’s happy to be tactical

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Reform UK is expected to enjoy an unprecedented surge at this week’s local elections in England, piling the pressure on Keir Starmer and Labour.

Polling experts predict that Nigel Farage’s party on Thursday, while Labour is forecast to lose almost 2,000 council seats.

Some people are ready to engage in tactical voting in a bid to hold back a “turquoise tidal wave” and prevent Reform from taking their town hall.

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‘Greens reflect my politics – but I’ll vote Labour’

Mat Hobbins, a 47-year-old lecturer from Sunderland, said he wanted to help stop Farage’s party winning control of the North East city’s council. Labour appears in danger of losing several regional “Red Wall” strongholds to Reform – including Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside.

Hobbins has become a fan of the revitalised Green Party under Zack Polanski, impressed by its left-wing economics and environmentalism. “They’re pushing for wealth taxes, which I’m a big fan of. And of course they want to do a lot more to address the climate crisis,” he said.

“The idealism really appeals to me. They’re the party that seem to reflect my politics now.”

However, he says he will be voting Labour in his Roker ward on Thursday – even as he describes being “disillusioned” with the party. He thinks it is the best bet to stop Reform winning in the area.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 24: Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales Zack Polanski speaks during an election press conference with the co-leaders of the Scottish Green Party for at Novotel on April 24, 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland. The Scottish Green Party is projected to achieve a record-breaking performance in the 7 May 2026 election, with polls suggesting they could win between 8 and 17 seats. Recent data from Ipsos and YouGov indicates a massive surge that could see them become the second or third-largest party in Holyrood. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Greens have enjoyed polling surge under Zack Polanski (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty)

“I’ve been disillusioned with Labour since Keir Starmer took over,” he said. “I’m disappointed, because I thought they would be a bit more radical. They’re not doing enough to address inequality. They’ve become stuck telling a very dour story.

“My tactical vote, purely to keep Reform out, will be to go for Labour,” he added. “I’m really worried by Reform. I think if the Lib Dems or even the Conservatives had the best chance of keeping Reform out, I’d even go Conservative.”

‘Anyone but Reform’

A recent JL Partners poll, based on national polling and local demographics, put Reform on 36 per cent in Sunderland. The same survey had Labour on 26 per cent and the Greens on 12.

“Based on looking at past elections, and what I’m hearing about the areas where Greens are strongest, which is elsewhere in Sunderland, I’m going to vote Labour,” said Hobbins.

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - APRIL 1: Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks with residents at Newton Leys pavilion on April 1, 2026 in Milton Keynes, England. Prime Minister and Labour Leader Keir Starmer is meeting with residents to discuss how the government is implementing policies to ease the cost of living as he campaigns ahead of local elections scheduled for May 7. (Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)
Starmer is facing widespread Labour losses at the local elections (Photo: Peter Nicholls/Getty)

The lecturer said he was worried about possible cuts to local services if Reform were to take charge in the city, and concerned about giving Farage political momentum in his push to reach No 10.

“I would worry about their competence, locally. They could spend money putting flags up everywhere,” he added. “More than anything else, it’s the message – the message of division and anti-immigration – that Reform sends that I think is so damaging. For me, it’s anyone but Reform. I hate the idea of a Reform government.”

‘Vote for the party you want to win’

Green Party candidate Richard Bradley, who is standing in Sunderland’s Tunstall and Humbledon ward, rejected the idea that his party is splitting the left-wing vote.

The Greens’ shock victory at the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election, pushing Labour into third in the sea in Greater Manchester, suggested left-wing voters take the party more seriously than ever before.

Bradley also pointed to national polling momentum behind the Greens, and said he was not a fan of tactical voting. “I encourage people to vote for the party they want to win,” he added. An election is a positive act, trying to use the ballot against something or someone will never really give you the outcome you want.”

Tactical voting more common on left

Recent YouGov polling found that Labour voters were some of “the most enthusiastic tactical voters”. Around three quarters of them said they were willing to switch to either the Liberal Democrats or Green Party to try to stop Reform UK, the poll found. And a majority of Lib Dem and Green voters were willing to loan their ballot to Labour to prevent Reform winning.

The survey also found that tactical voting was less common among supporters of right-wing parties.

Polling expert and Tory peer Lord Robert Hayward previously told The i Paper that efforts to thwart Reform would be the “largest single factor” when it comes to tactical voting at the local elections.

‘Tough job’ for voters in new five-party system

However, Tom Lubbock, pollster at JL Partners, said the shift to a five-party system leaves voters with “a tough job calculating a tactical vote”.

Lord Hayward has forecast that Labour will lose around 1,850 councillors this week, describing it as “bad news” for the beleaguered PM. The polling expert has also predicted 1,550 gains for Reform and 500 more seats for the Greens.

Farage’s party has talked up the “turquoise tidal wave” since its rapid polling rise following the general election. Reform UK was contacted for comment. Asked previously about tactical voting, a Reform spokesperson called it “dishonest voting tactics” and said other parties were struggling to make a “positive case for themselves”.

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