Labour urges tactical voting against Kemi Badenoch in UK elections

Reform has dropped a parliamentary candidate, Grant St Clair-Armstrong, after it was revealed that he had previously urged people to vote for the hard-right British National Party (BNP). St Clair-Armstrong will no longer stand in the North West Essex constituency under the Reform banner due to his 'unacceptable historic social media comments'. In blog posts uncovered by the Daily Mail, he expressed support for the BNP and criticized the state of the UK. St Clair-Armstrong has since expressed regret for his past statements, attributing them to a 'very angry period' in his life. He has removed the posts from his website, which now focuses on selling art collectibles and books. A Reform spokesman confirmed St Clair-Armstrong's resignation following the revelation of his past comments. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch, a frontrunner in the North West Essex constituency, is facing a tough battle to retain her seat amid concerns of potential tactical voting. Recent polling suggests that she could be at risk of losing her seat, with opponents urging supporters of other parties to vote tactically. Localized polling indicates a close race between Badenoch and her competitors, with concerns of a Tory wipeout based on national polls. The presence of anti-trans policies in Badenoch's campaign has raised speculation about her future leadership ambitions within the Conservative Party. Opponents like Ms Waite are campaigning for tactical voting to unseat Badenoch, with projections indicating a tight race. The Liberal Democrats have rejected calls for tactical voting in the constituency, emphasizing the importance of supporting their candidates as a means to challenge the Conservatives. The upcoming election in the North West Essex constituency is shaping up to be highly competitive, with various parties vying for support and strategic voting playing a significant role in the outcome.