Influence of smaller parties is growing: Even without winning an election, third parties could achieve higher vote share, stronger media presence, and policy influence
I’d go further and say that a coalition government is much more likely when the small parties gain MPs, and that a small party in a coalition could have a lot of power.
I don’t think any party would join a coalition with Reform, however. Lib Dems could feasibly join a coalition with Labour or the Conservatives.
This is an interesting point! I agree with Ben that a Conservative-Reform coalition is very possible though, particularly if Reform do anywhere near as well in the next election as they have done in polls thus far. I’d imagine the chances of a hung parliament are currently pretty high.
Yep, you’ve convinced me. I asked a friend in politics and they were very confident that if push came to shove, the Tories would share power with Reform. I think I didn’t consider the alternative: Reform joining forces with a Leftwing party, or a lack of any formal coalition.
I’d go further and say that a coalition government is much more likely when the small parties gain MPs, and that a small party in a coalition could have a lot of power.
I don’t think any party would join a coalition with Reform, however. Lib Dems could feasibly join a coalition with Labour or the Conservatives.
Plausibly the Tories, no?
I know they’ve both ruled it out but they have overlapping voters and there was a Brexit Party—Conservative pact in 2019
This is an interesting point! I agree with Ben that a Conservative-Reform coalition is very possible though, particularly if Reform do anywhere near as well in the next election as they have done in polls thus far. I’d imagine the chances of a hung parliament are currently pretty high.
Yep, you’ve convinced me. I asked a friend in politics and they were very confident that if push came to shove, the Tories would share power with Reform. I think I didn’t consider the alternative: Reform joining forces with a Leftwing party, or a lack of any formal coalition.