A potential alliance between the Conservative Party and Reform UK poses a "real danger" in the upcoming general election, Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, warned on Monday. Speaking at the annual trade union gathering in Brighton, Dempsey stated that unions must develop a "different approach" to counter this political prospect.
Dempsey drew parallels not to historical figures like fascist leader Oswald Mosley, but to the current political landscape, which he described as a "completely different scenario." He cautioned against an alliance between Reform UK and the Conservative Party, the "oldest ruling party in Western Europe," noting that such a coalition could bring these elements into Parliament. He also highlighted concerns about a "burgeoning street movement" potentially making connections with "old paramilitaries" in terms of organization and techniques, alongside the influence of significant financial backing from "crypto billionaires."
This intervention comes as calls for the political Right to unite to prevent left-leaning parties from gaining power have intensified. Former Conservative minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg told the Daily Mail that "people voting for what they want is democracy" and that "socialism and high taxation" threaten the country more than a united right.
Data suggests that if right-wing voters strategically supported the most likely winning party in each constituency, the Right could secure 484 Members of Parliament. A recent poll indicates that one-third of Britons are willing to vote tactically. However, the research also revealed that left-wing voters are considerably more inclined to vote tactically than their right-wing counterparts. Furthermore, Conservative voters showed a greater willingness to consider tactical votes for the Liberal Democrats than for Reform UK.
Luke Tryl, head of the polling firm More in Common, commented on the trend, stating, "Tactical voting has begun to play a more decisive role in our politics." He pointed to recent by-election results where "ruthless tactical consolidation" occurred against Reform UK, while the right has struggled to build similar tactical coalitions. This research, he added, confirms this ongoing shift in voter behavior.