Reform lose

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Reform beaten by Plaid Cymru

https://news.sky.com/story/caerphilly-by-election-with-farage-absent-reform-candidate-looked-neglected-and-dejected-13456263

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/24/caerphilly-byelection-result-live-reform-plaid-cymru-labour-wales-welsh-government-senedd-latest-voting-news

[Gordon]

Excellent news - reports say that tactical voting was a factor, in that people voted for the party most likely to stop Reform in that constituency.

Be interesting to see how that plays out in the Holyrood election next year.

[Nearly Sane]

Excellent news - reports say that tactical voting was a factor, in that people voted for the party most likely to stop Reform in that constituency.

Be interesting to see how that plays out in the Holyrood election next year.

Which, of course, has a form of PR, making tactical voting harder

[Sebastian Toe]

Which, of course, has a form of PR, making tactical voting harder

Nevertheless I think it has been used by unionist voters in the past to vote for the party most likely to beat the SNP in the list votes. With some success if I recall correctly.
Now however there is a dilemma as voting SNP might be the best way to keep out Reform using the same tactic!

[Nearly Sane]

Nevertheless I think it has been used by unionist voters in the past to vote for the party most likely to beat the SNP in the list votes. With some success if I recall correctly.
Now however there is a dilemma as voting SNP might be the best way to keep out Reform using the same tactic!

That tactic though was hugely dependent on the SNP winning in the FPTP seats and being by far the largest party. There have been some attempts to use it but largely not successful, and at most means a handful of seats 

[Sebastian Toe]

That tactic though was hugely dependent on the SNP winning in the FPTP seats and being by far the largest party. There have been some attempts to use it but largely not successful, and at most means a handful of seats

A few seats in a tight election!

[Steve H]

Which, of course, has a form of PR, making tactical voting harder

Making tactical voting unnecessary, which for me is its main advantage, rather than proportionality.

[Nearly Sane]

A few seats in a tight election!

At 'best'. Reform aren't in current numbers any chance of forming a govt in Scotland. They may well be the 'official opposition. The amount of seats at most that might be affected in that case won't stop that.

[Nearly Sane]

Making tactical voting unnecessary, which for me is its main advantage, rather than proportionality.

Which it doesn't because of the d'Hondt system - hence the discussion. And it is only by the proportionality that you can remove the tactical voting so your point is arse about face