News
October 3, 2024
Written by Yasmine Adam
The recent French elections have showcased a remarkable display of strategic alliance building and tactical voting, providing valuable lessons for the political landscape in the UK. The unexpected success of the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) in France, which defeated even President Macron’s centrist alliance, demonstrates the power of unity and collaboration among diverse political factions. This victory was achieved by bringing together Socialists, Greens, Communists, and the hard-left France Unbowed, who collectively prevented vote splitting and secured a significant political triumph.
In the first round of the French elections, Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally emerged as the frontrunner. However, the dynamics shifted dramatically in the second round when the NPF managed to secure third place for the National Rally. This success was attributed to the NPF's ability to galvanize voters through a cohesive strategy that minimized internal competition and maximized electoral impact. By focusing on common goals and leveraging the strengths of each constituent party, the NPF presented a united front that resonated with the electorate.
Reflecting on the UK’s recent elections, we can firstly look at the incredible success of the new 5 independent MPs. To understand the significance of this – this is the highest number of independent MPs since 1950. However, a question arises – could a higher number of MPs have been won had a similar approach to the French taken place.
Analysing constituencies with high Muslim populations reveals a missed opportunity where strategic alliances could have altered the election outcomes significantly. In five key constituencies, the pro-Palestine candidates would have triumphed over Labour if the Green Party candidates had stood down, thus avoiding vote splitting.
The specific constituencies identified include:
Additionally, in Birmingham Hall Green & Moseley, the presence of two independent candidates led to vote splitting, further underscoring the need for strategic alliances. These six seats represent lost opportunities that could have been converted into victories with better coordination.
At TMV, the Green Party received the highest number of endorsed candidates. For good reason, an increasing number of Muslim voters have found the Green party a better representation on a variety of domestic and foreign policies. If we look at the 40 constituencies where the Green Party finished second, 22 of those have a Muslim population exceeding 10%. This will be absolutely crucial for the Greens in their quest to increase their parliamentary representation in future elections.
The unprecedented success of securing five independent MPs against all expectations highlights the potential for even greater achievements through unity and strategic planning. By emulating the NPF’s approach and forming political alliances, diverse political groups in the UK can amplify their influence and challenge the dominance of traditional parties. It sends a signal to the Labour party – if it does not genuinely and address the concerns of Muslim voters, it will easily lose a lot more key strategic seats now that many of those seats are marginals.
The lesson from France is clear: unity is strength. The ability to bring together diverse political entities under a common banner, focusing on shared objectives while minimizing internal competition, can significantly enhance electoral success. For the UK, this means that progressive parties, independents, and other like-minded groups must come to the table, set aside differences, and work collaboratively. Only through such political alliances can they hope to secure more seats, influence policy and bring a more hopeful vision that people can buy into.