Monday, June 17, 2024 The paradox of tactical voting The former pro-EU campaign Best for Britain today published its guide to tactical voting in every constituency in the UK, not just in Great Britain, where it wants to maximise the anti-Tory vote, but in Northern Ireland, where it wants to encourage voting against the DUP and TUV.    In a way the ideological bias of the campaign doesn't matter: if you want to vote against a big Labour majority, you can use the same information in the opposite direction.    There are a few controversial recommendations in seats where Labour, Lib Dems, Greens or Nationalists cannot agree who is best placed to stop the Tories (Labour thinks it can win Wimbledon, for example).      And there are odd places such as Clacton, where voters who want to stop Nigel Farage have to decide whether a vote for Labour or Conservative is more likely to be effective.    The paradox of tactical voting is that in 2011 the British people decided in a referendum against preferential voting, designed to ensure every MP had the support of at least 50 per cent of those with a preference – which is precisely what tactical voting seeks to achieve. Quiz question If Keir Starmer wins next month at the age of 61, he will be the oldest prime minister on taking office since whom?  Answer at the bottom of today's email I have worked for The Independent long enough to remember when you had to pay to read our journalism, because the main way of getting hold of it was to buy a paper copy. Now a lot of what we do is free to read online, including one of my columns every Saturday. But it is as true today as it was then that good journalism costs money.    I am extremely proud of what we do at The Independent, from scoops such as the prime minister's wife's non-dom status to our lively comment articles for the independent-minded. I wish we could pay for it all from advertising, and we have been brilliantly successful in building up a huge online audience.   But advertising cannot pay for it all, which is why I urge you to become a subscriber. 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SUBSCRIBE: £1 FOR 6 MONTHS Daily briefing Grant Shapps admits Tories 'unlikely' to win  The defence secretary said he would not 'pretend black is white' by claiming Rishi Sunak is on course to remain prime minister Labour and the Conservative plans to tackle the housing crisis A guide by Holly Bancroft, our social affairs correspondent, to the main parties' manifesto promises Ask our political editor anything about Reform UK as Nigel Farage unveils its manifesto Get your questions in to David Maddox now and he will answer them at noon tomorrow What else you need to know today A Redfield & Wilton opinion poll put Reform level with the Conservatives on 18 per cent   I wrote about the launch of Reform's non-manifesto, and Nigel Farage's ambition to be non-prime-minister I also wrote at the weekend about the "monumental sandcastle" theory of James Kanagasooriam: he is the one who identified the potential for the "red wall" to fall to the Tories in 2019; he now points out that this wasn't a permanent realignment – and that if Labour wins a huge majority on 4 July, it might be temporary too  The Independent View As the Tories look beyond the election, Mordaunt is a credible opposition leader Politics explained Why did Ed Davey throw himself in the water to win the Lib Dems votes? David Maddox on the political calculation behind the Lib Dem leader's frivolity...   Read more MOST COMMENTED 'I am the original Brexiteer' – Rishi Sunak hits back at Nigel Farage's challenge Tomorrow on the campaign trail Our political commentator Andrew Grice on what to look out for Keir Starmer will take questions from LBC listeners and presenter Nick Ferrari in a phone-in from 9-10am. Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, will launch his party's Scottish manifesto.  Adrian Ramsay, the Greens' co-leader, will be interviewed by Nick Robinson for his Panorama series on BBC1 at 10.55pm. The deadline to register to vote is at 11.59pm. Don't forget.  QUOTE OF THE DAY "I now think independence is further away than ever"   Tony Blair says Scottish devolution has worked Enjoy 6 months of Independent Premium for just £1  With the election date set, our mission to provide unbiased journalism has never been more important. As the only quality news source that refuses to take political sides, you can rely on our commentary and analysis to help you make sense of the key elections in the UK and US. SUBSCRIBE TODAY You may cancel at any time. Quiz answer: James Callaghan, 64 in 1976 The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 Join the conversation or follow us Download the free Independent app Please do not reply directly to this email   You are currently registered to receive The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter.   To unsubscribe from The Independent's View From Westminster newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345 Read our privacy notice and cookie policy