In the final days of the election campaign, a string of first-time voters in Wells explained that they were keen on Labour but would back the Lib Dems to help force out the Tory candidate.
It didn’t work. Former army major James Heappey retained the Somerset seat for the Conservatives, holding off Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt. Labour came in third but was delighted to double its number of votes.
“I was annoyed that James Heappey got in,” said 18-year-old Catrin Brooke, one of those tactical voters. “ I think people went for security in the end. They thought the Tories were the safe option.”
Having done some research on the Democratic Unionist party, Catrin is gloomy about the probable look of the new government. “The DUP goes against everything I believe in. I’m alarmed at their views on abortion and their homophobia. I can’t understand how a female politician would want go into a partnership with the DUP. I think Theresa May is power-hungry. Most people would have accepted what has happened and resigned.”
Next time there is an election Catrin may well be away from Wells at university. “If I’m in a constituency where Labour has a chance I would 100% vote for them,” she said. “I’d have loved to this time.”
Wells was a focus because it was the sort of constituency where a Lib Dem fightback might take place. In the final days of the campaign, as it became clear that Heappey had done enough to hold the seat, it was the thoughts of the new voters that came to the fore.
Another 18-year-old, Molly Lythaby, who memorably took Heappey on over tuition fees at a hustings, said she was proud of what Jeremy Corbyn achieved. “I think it’s amazing that people have seen what Labour stands for and what they can do for us. There’s so much I’m worried about: university fees, property prices, cuts to the NHS, pensions. I feel that Labour is giving hope for the many.”
Like Catrin she voted Lib Dem this time but hopes to vote Labour next. She added: “I want people to see I am one of those who support change.”
Andy Merryfield, the Wells Labour candidate, was back in the classroom this week. The number of Labour members in the constituency has quadrupled in recent months, meaning the party managed to get more activists out and about during this campaign – and suggesting that the concept of tactical voting never quite caught on. “It’s been a massive learning experience,” he said.
Despite the challenge of juggling his day job with campaigning, Merryfield is hoping for a rematch sooner rather than later. “I don’t hope for a break because we didn’t win. We need to be in power. Next time we need to be much more hard-nosed and, first of all, see how we can chisel into the Liberal Democrat vote.”
Merryfield said that since election night he had received criticism that he was helping prop up the Tories by taking votes off the Lib Dems. He is unapologetic. “I haven’t bothered to reply to the brickbats,” he said. “It’s not my job to prop up the Lib Dems.”
Final word to Theo Golden, an 18-year-old choral scholar who is spending his gap year singing at the cathedral. He is a “real” – not tactical – Lib Dem supporter who spoke passionately to the Guardian during the campaign about his hope that a Lib Dem comeback could help bring about a soft Brexit and more caring UK.
Halfway through the campaign Theo said he liked Corbyn but found him “a bit haphazard”. By the end he had more respect for the Labour leader. “I think Jezza ran a really good positive campaign. The Tories were a complete shambles.”
Theo will leave one cathedral city for another in the autumn when he takes up a place at Durham University. Labour has a comfortable majority in the City of Durham from the Tories while the Lib Dems trail in a distant third. What if there is another general election while he is there? “Two or three years ago I’d have voted Tory in Durham,” said Theo. “Now I think I’d probably vote tactically for Labour.”
