HUNDREDS of the country's top academics yesterday urged Britain to opt for change on polling day by voting tactically to defeat the Tories.
In a letter to the Times, more than 300 leading intellectuals said a change of government on May 1 was ''essential for the future prosperity and regeneration of Britain''.
Its signatories represent the cream of British academia, including Professor Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, Prof Anthony Giddens, director of the London School of Economics, Prof David Currie of the London Business School and Quentin Skinner, Regius Professor of History at Cambridge.
It fell short of recommending any specific party. ''Vote tactically is the strong implication of the letter,'' said signatory Dr David Halpern, of Cambridge University.
The letter called for constitutional and government reform, a high priority on investment in education, a commitment to the health service and the environment and a positive strategy on Europe.
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