Bit of a self-indulgent post so please bear with me...
Politics is such a minefield. Not that it really matters - I'm not looking to join a party or anything - but it's bothering me that I genuinely don't know which values/economic stances I agree most with. Of course, context matters, and voting preferences can change over time and depend upon the circumstances, world events, current leadership etc. But I don't even feel like I know which core values I most identify with, and whether they're more left or more conservative.
I'm a second generation citizen, both my parents were immigrants, and I do believe in self-reliance and self-sufficiency, and working hard etc etc. I'm not an anti-capitalist by any means and can't really think of a better system that helps lift people out of poverty.
At the same time, I also believe in taking care of the most vulnerable, and accounts of disabled people, for example, barely having enough to live off or having to undergo humiliating disability assessments angers me.
I'm reasonably passionate about education - I'm not against private schools, nor grammar schools, but think that state school standards need to be improved.
On "culture war" stuff, I think we need to find a way forward that recognises and legitimises the barriers and struggles certain groups in society face, and strive towards equality of opportunity for all. In many cases I think accusations of "wokery" etc are unfounded, but I think that in some circumstances, identity politics can feel like a zero-sum game. However, that doesn't mean that we don't acknowledge the historic, social, economic and other obstacles that women, ethnic minorities, gender minorities, disabled people faced and still do face.
On foreign policy stuff, my views aren't particularly developed. I wish we were a bit more progressive in our understanding of things like Israel/Palestine, but I think the Ukraine response has been effective, and the Afghanistan withdrawal was a disaster.
I voted to Remain but also don't subscribe to the self-righteous lefty idea that everyone that voted Leave is a racist or a bigot.
I feel like I sound very middle ground tbh, but this just means I genuinely don't ever know who to vote for in elections or generally support.