To not solely support the left or right?

[Quirkyme]

Good evening,

I know it's not unreasonable...

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel that there are aspects of both sides I agree with, although I do not support the far-left, not the far-right.

Does that make me a 'centrist', I've heard other use that term to describe themselves?

And what party best aligns with this? Because it seems that none do?

I previously thought the Lib Dems, although I have never voted for them.

Anybody share similar views? Do you find it difficult to align with a specific party (not that you have to), or vote due to this?

What aspects of current government policy do you agree with? Terms like far left and far right mean different things to different people, what do they mean to you?

www.politicalcompass.org/test

Labour and the tories are not so different really. There are no real far right and far left parties in this country

I feel the same op. I used be firmly left, but I don’t agree with some of their policies regarding women/gender. Can’t get behind the conservatives fully either, I feel lost politically tbh.

YANBU. The far-left and the far-right are as equally irksome and loathsome as each other, and are equally as bigoted. As I heard someone say once, they are 2 separate cheeks of the same arse.

Just left of centre, and just right of centre are both fine, as are people who are centrists, (which is what you sound like @Quirkyme)

But the far left/woke, and the far right, are both fucking dreadful.

YANBU I tend to feel aligned with policies rather than parties. In the last couple of elections I decided which policy area was most important to me, which party had the policy on that area that best aligned with my view and voted that way. I'd really like to be able to vote for a party but there's a gap in the centre.

Politically homeless

I steal the bits I like from both sides 🤷‍♀️

I know why you mean, the best fit for me was New Labour. I don’t think there is a centrist option anymore

YANBU.

It’s fine, if somewhat unfashionable, to be a centrist. My political hero is Tony Blair, or at least it was until he lost his mind over Iraq…

These days, I would say I’m left of centre on economic issues, so I support progressive taxation, a strong welfare safety net, decent pensions, a properly funded healthcare system etc etc.

On other issues such as free speech, drug prohibition, the criminalisation of the sex industry I would describe myself as a live-and-let-live libertarian. I believe that adults should be free to make their own decisions about what they choose to do with their own bodies and lives. I find the views of many left wing people on these issues to be unacceptably censorious, illiberal and authoritarian.

On Brexit, I voted Remain, and I campaigned for a second referendum but my view now is that we have to accept reality & move on. Brexit has happened and we lost the argument on immigration and free movement.

YANBU. I've always been left wing but I think left v right has become a much less helpful way to think about politics over the past few years.

Authoritarianism is the big threat now, IMO, and I'll fight that whether it comes from the left or the right.

YANBU. I'm the same as a lot of pp here.

The thing with the test a pp posted is that you're still expected to either agree or disagree, but there are many questions I neither agree nor disagree with (and some I agree AND disagree with) depending on the situation or because I need further context. So it's still isn't as easy to peg me into a corner.

I've been fine with being politically homeless and Centrist (or whatever anyone calls it) most of my life. I think it helps me to see things clearly - I choose what I agree or disagree with from all sides and have no blind loyalty to anyone.

No, I think it's more common than not.

On those political compass tests I always end up somewhere to the left of Gandhi, but I also don't particularly support state socialism or big state solutions, or globalism, libertarianism, or corporate capitalism. I'm somewhat of a traditional conservative on social issues and community, and I can't stand identity politics, but I'm very much a supporter of liberal democratic values, the exchange of ideas, and all that. I'm also inclined to be somewhat pragmatic about policy.

There is no party I have found in any English speaking western country that reflects that. So I tend to vote according to what is most pressing at the time, with some real weight on the quality of my local MP.

@IRelateToViewpointsNotPeople

YANBU. I'm the same as a lot of pp here.

The thing with the test a pp posted is that you're still expected to either agree or disagree, but there are many questions I neither agree nor disagree with (and some I agree AND disagree with) depending on the situation or because I need further context. So it's still isn't as easy to peg me into a corner.

I've been fine with being politically homeless and Centrist (or whatever anyone calls it) most of my life. I think it helps me to see things clearly - I choose what I agree or disagree with from all sides and have no blind loyalty to anyone.

I think the test takes that into consideration, it's why they ask about a lot of different, but similar, things.

The real problem I see with it these days is it doesn't entirely take into account newer political alignments, especially left wing authoritarianism.

I was as left as it was possible to be but the left has moved so far away now that I am left behind in the new centre, which seemingly many far leftists now claim is actually the far right… 🤷🏼‍♀️

I like to hear both sides, weigh up all the details and then decide what I think. I thought this was what most people did, but apparently not. Not having a permanent political stance, and asking questions about political positions before deciding where I stand seems to be a big no no these days. It’s worrying.

I always think that political compass test is a bit off, perhaps calibrated for America. Everyone comes out as very left wing.

I think this is most people's stance - somewhere in the middle.

My best friend for a political debate is a Tory and I'm (usually) Labour. I like to tease him by telling him we basically agree, we've just picked different sides. And we do agree on what needs doing, we just disagree on which party does it.

For me the right don't have any redeeming features and the Tories definitely don't. I don't even think the majority of the Tories are far right. I don't think they are anything or have any ideology. I think they are opportunistic chancers and will align with anyone and anything that helps keep them in power and their pockets lined.

I'm not thrilled with the current Labour party either but they definitely aren't as bad as the Tories. No one could of be.

@Libertaire

YANBU.

It’s fine, if somewhat unfashionable, to be a centrist. My political hero is Tony Blair, or at least it was until he lost his mind over Iraq…

These days, I would say I’m left of centre on economic issues, so I support progressive taxation, a strong welfare safety net, decent pensions, a properly funded healthcare system etc etc.

On other issues such as free speech, drug prohibition, the criminalisation of the sex industry I would describe myself as a live-and-let-live libertarian. I believe that adults should be free to make their own decisions about what they choose to do with their own bodies and lives. I find the views of many left wing people on these issues to be unacceptably censorious, illiberal and authoritarian.

On Brexit, I voted Remain, and I campaigned for a second referendum but my view now is that we have to accept reality & move on. Brexit has happened and we lost the argument on immigration and free movement.

This is me. Perhaps it's an age thing? In my childhood in the 60s my parents were very left wing. The labour party of Blair was my ideal until Iraq. I swore I'd never vote for Blair again after that. The Labour party of Corbyn pushed me to the right. I voted remain but could have voted leave, I was on the fence. Was relatively happy the conservatives got in instead of Corbyn but think BJ isn't up to the job. I have views which are quite left wing, I believe the state should control transport, utilities etc. On the other hand I don't think the NHS model works and it shouldn't be entirely free at point of use.

@JumperandJacket

I always think that political compass test is a bit off, perhaps calibrated for America. Everyone comes out as very left wing.

I don't think they are American, the people who developed it. Though I know when I have talked about it to Americans they are much more likely to be on the right.