PR campaign group backs Banbury Labour candidate for General Election

Compass Oxfordshire wants tactical voting for candidates who support replacing first-past-the-post system

We don’t yet have a date for the General Election, but a local campaign group has thrown its support behind the candidate who’s already been named as standing for Labour in the Banbury constituency.

Compass Oxfordshire wants to facilitate a collaboration between Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Green Party in key seats to help a progressive government win power with the aim of changing the voting system.

They are backing candidates who support replacing the current first-past-the-post electoral system with proportional representation.

Compass Oxfordshire say they are supporting Labour Candidate Sean Woodcock for the Banbury seat. They say he is best placed to win with the help of a tactical voting campaign. Mr Woodcock has confirmed his support for proportional representation.

Other Compass local groups are looking to secure similar such endorsements across the country.

Compass Oxfordshire has also said it is supporting the Liberal Democratic candidate Freddie Van Mierlo for Henley & Thame.

A spokesperson for Compass Oxfordshire said: “Just a cursory glance at Westminster politics over the last few years shows our politics is quite clearly not fit for purpose. That’s why we need an entirely new system. But this has to start with electing people committed to reform.

“With progressive MPs representing both Banbury and Henley & Thame, we can begin to build towards a new democratic politics where tactical voting is unnecessary, where our vote counts, and where our needs, as a county and country, finally come first.”