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Original poster

Help me decide what political party to join

54 replies

54321nought · 05/08/2021 18:44

I am retiring, and want to become more politically active

My priorities are the environment and housing

So you might think Green? But are they actually a serious party with workable policies? And I know they have a transwoman in a woman's position. A very big mark against them. But on the other hand, maybe something best challenged from the inside?

Or libdems? Big on housing and on the environment. I am worried by their policy on legalising cannabis, having worked as a carer and known many trafficked children working as slaves in the UK cannabis industry - I think legalising cannabis will make this issue much worse.

Or labour? but are they too chaotic? too anitsemetic? too big and muddled to actually change direction and do something s=useful?

What are the other options?

OP posts:
badpuma · 05/08/2021 18:50

Instead of a political party, can you have a look at what local varieties there are, particularly for the environment. There are loads of really good local initiatives about reducing food waste etc all the way to the likes of Greenpeace.

For housing, why don't you think about joining your parish council - they will prepare the parish plan which may include housing but you'll get a clearer view of the housing requirements in your area and the options for meeting them.

Brigittebidet · 05/08/2021 18:52

I am politically homeless at the moment as I had to leave the Greens due to the whole trans debacle. It just didn't sit comfortably with me at all. I will read with interest OP!

Original poster
54321nought · 05/08/2021 18:54

@badpuma

Instead of a political party, can you have a look at what local varieties there are, particularly for the environment. There are loads of really good local initiatives about reducing food waste etc all the way to the likes of Greenpeace.

For housing, why don't you think about joining your parish council - they will prepare the parish plan which may include housing but you'll get a clearer view of the housing requirements in your area and the options for meeting them.

I am already involved in lots of environmental and homeless charities.

Excellent idea about looking into the Parish council though, I will definitely do that.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Politics
Orf1abc · 05/08/2021 18:54

Labour aren't 'too antisemitic'. If you look at the stats about where antisemitic abuse originates, it's predominantly a right wing issue. Of course there are some anti semitic people on the left, sadly they exist in all areas of life.

I assume you're equally concerned about Islamophobia and race hate?

What are your views on workers rights and inequality? In what way is housing your priority?

You can't really align with a party over two issues.

ChatterMonkey · 05/08/2021 18:55

I dont understand why you want to join a political party when you appear to have no obvious preferences?

Why not just get involved in local charities/causes in your area, then you can make a difference in the specific causes that you are interested in rather than getting involved in a political party with more general aims.

Original poster
54321nought · 05/08/2021 18:55

@Brigittebidet

I am politically homeless at the moment as I had to leave the Greens due to the whole trans debacle. It just didn't sit comfortably with me at all. I will read with interest OP!
interesting! so my idea that it could possibly be challenged from within sounds like a non starter then!
OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 05/08/2021 18:59

@Orf1abc

Labour aren't 'too antisemitic'. If you look at the stats about where antisemitic abuse originates, it's predominantly a right wing issue. Of course there are some anti semitic people on the left, sadly they exist in all areas of life.

I assume you're equally concerned about Islamophobia and race hate?

What are your views on workers rights and inequality? In what way is housing your priority?

You can't really align with a party over two issues.

Yes equally concerned over any other racism, but most of the rest seems to come from the right, which I am not considering anyway.

Housing is my priority in that I consider lack of housing to be the biggest root of injustice, poor quality of life, poor educational outcomes and poor health in the country.

I want my allegiance to go to a political party which is working to provide safe warm dry spacious-enough housing for everyone in the UK.

( not at the expense of the environment)

OP posts:
Galassia · 05/08/2021 19:00

Just avoid any leftist parties or green parties and you’ll be fine. The conservatives have had their day though.

Original poster
54321nought · 05/08/2021 19:01

@ChatterMonkey

I dont understand why you want to join a political party when you appear to have no obvious preferences?

Why not just get involved in local charities/causes in your area, then you can make a difference in the specific causes that you are interested in rather than getting involved in a political party with more general aims.

I have been involved in local charities for around 40 years....

Well, you are right, I don't have a preference - but I am trying to be objective. Surely that is the way to choose a political party, rather than old habits or family traditions....

You have to have some sort of objective basis on which to make a choice -and I am just looking for ideas on how to go about this

OP posts:
Original poster
54321nought · 05/08/2021 19:02

@Galassia

Just avoid any leftist parties or green parties and you’ll be fine. The conservatives have had their day though.
ok! Who does that leave!
OP posts:
NautaOcts · 05/08/2021 19:02

I might be wrong about this as not the expert at all but the impression I have is that if you were worried about the stance of trans issues in the Green Party maybe labour isn’t for you either? But someone correct me if I’m wrong

Original poster
54321nought · 05/08/2021 19:04

I consider myself fairly normal! I just want everyone to have somewhere to live, and for the planet to be better looked after. Surely there must be a party for normal people who want reasonable things?

I keep thinking there must be a party I have missed!

Or maybe I am actually severely abnormal and just don't realise it Grin

OP posts:
badpuma · 05/08/2021 19:12

The trouble is that all political parties can say completely different things at different levels. For example, we have a Lib Dem MP. Lib Dem policy is to increase house building (as do all the other parties a even the tories) but probably with a bigger focus on affordable housing.

A large housing site was recently proposed to be allocated near us which would provide 2000 affordable houses. The Lib Dem's local campaign leaflet was opposing this development.

Original poster
54321nought · 05/08/2021 19:13

@badpuma

The trouble is that all political parties can say completely different things at different levels. For example, we have a Lib Dem MP. Lib Dem policy is to increase house building (as do all the other parties a even the tories) but probably with a bigger focus on affordable housing.

A large housing site was recently proposed to be allocated near us which would provide 2000 affordable houses. The Lib Dem's local campaign leaflet was opposing this development.

Was it on a greenfield or a brownfield site?
OP posts:
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 05/08/2021 19:16

Monster Raving Loony Party

badpuma · 05/08/2021 19:19

It was a mixed site - partly fields, partly landfill and partly developed. it was also apparently the only large undeveloped available site to meet local housing need when the council reviewed all available sites. The Mp turned up to the inquiry to argue that the figures were wrong and the housing need wasn't that great.

lljkk · 05/08/2021 19:31

What do you want as housing policy, OP?

topcat2014 · 05/08/2021 19:33

I have read Jess Philips latest book in two days. I couldn't put it down. Learned more about politics than I expected.

Much more nuanced than we think.

I'm actually a Conservative, and also on two charities so nothing has to be black and white.

lljkk · 05/08/2021 19:36

Actually... how do people 'in' political parties stomach the policies they don't agree with? Because no one actually in their heart 100% supports every single one of the policies their party adopts. Not even Rebecca Long-Bailey.

newnortherner111 · 05/08/2021 20:14

I think you should look at campaigning within pressure groups not political parties, and agree about the parish council suggestion.

Boood · 05/08/2021 20:17

None of the parties you’ve listed are able to correctly define a woman, and all of them are happy to throw our rights away. If that is important to you, don’t give them your money.

notanothergoodname · 05/08/2021 20:21

I voted conservative at the last election. Their candidate was the only one who responded to my question about a policy area. He actually engaged in a dialogue with me. The others were too cowardly to do so.
Not voting for cowards who don't feel they have to be accountable, so voted for the conservative.

I can't imagine ever joining a political party again though. Never thought I would say this, but I actually do think the conservatives are the best of a pretty poor bunch at the moment.

notanothergoodname · 05/08/2021 20:27

And I know they have a transwoman in a woman's position. A very big mark against them

If this is an issue for you then you really have cut out Lib Dem and Labour too., and SNP if you are in Scotland and Plaid Cymru if you are in Wales. Turns out none of those parties believe that women experience the world differently because of their sex or need sex segregated spaces when they are vulnerable to protect them from predatory males. Its like Me Too never happened. Or any of the sex scandals. Or that we can all see and have all experienced that women and girls are smaller and weaker than males .

DerAlteMann · 05/08/2021 20:34

@Galassia

Just avoid any leftist parties or green parties and you’ll be fine. The conservatives have had their day though.
The conservatives have had their day

They've been saying this since the 1920s. Still with us though.

Original poster
54321nought · 06/08/2021 12:26

I've just been looking at the latest Kathryn Bristow nonsense.

That really does rule the Greens out, doesn't it

OP posts: