To wonder if you could be with someone who has different political beliefs to you?

[MyPithyTurtle]

I’m talking about things like Labour vs. Conservative, or vice versa. Obviously, I know people have different views, but could you be in a relationship where your political opinions are at opposite ends of the spectrum? Would it cause too much tension, or is it possible to have a healthy relationship despite the differences? What do you think?

No I couldn’t.

Came here to say this. I wouldn't be with someone who didn't share certain core values that I hold. However, not sure any political party represents my views/values at the moment. DH and I have similar values and worldviews. But we might in theory vote for different parties. In fact, I myself might vote for a different party if I weren't a tactical voter.

I could be with anyone hard left or hard right tbh. DH and I are both centrists - me slightly more to the left and him slightly more to the right. But both of us feel politics is rarely black/white and issues tend to be nuanced....

Well said. I feel exactly this way. My sister is married to someone on the opposite side (she's fairly centrist) and I don't know how she stands it.

Most people’s politics are intrinsically linked to their values. I couldn’t be with someone who didn’t broadly share my values, but I could get past some specifics in approach as long as they were well-informed and reasoned.

I’d have more of a problem with someone who said they had no opinion on politics or didn’t care about it. I’ll never understand how people can say that.

No I couldn't, political values are so closely linked to personal values.

Opposing views on women's rights/abortion rights would be a particularly big deal breaker.

I couldn’t date a conservative supporter. I would also struggle to be close friends with one. Living in an echo chamber is fine by me as I know my beliefs are the right ones!

The only way I can see a romantic relationship between two people with completely opposing political views being sustainable is if neither of them care very much about politics anyway. That way they could simply not discuss it, but even if they did it probably wouldn't get heated. DH and I are both very passionate about politics and social justice issues, so that wouldn't work for us. Although we don't agree on every single issue and that's fine, neither of us would want to be with someone who wasn't on the same page when it comes to the issues that matter most to us. I'm happy to listen to opposing viewpoints but I couldn't be romantically involved with someone who voted Tory or Reform. There are colleagues, friends and relatives with right-leaning views who I get along well with, but I don't have to live with them, make joint decisions with them or find them sexually appealing.

To my surprise, yes. On paper we are a long way apart politically, but in discussion we agree on more than we disagree.

We often bring individual politicians that we admire, of any party, to each other's attention.

We know the points on which we won't agree (Starmer, Johnson, abortion) and either steer clear or let the other have a rant and get stuff off their chests

No idea who my worst half votes for .
But nothing like a good argument but my worst half knows who I'm a supporter of as I tell them all .

Depends.

I’m a lefty but I’ve had friends/exes who were Libertarians and thatcherites and we agreed on a lot of things.

You can be a Labour voter who believes that being gay is a sin (plenty of them where I live) or a Tory voter who believes people should be free to do as they please and that’s why we need a small state.

Within a certain range of left wing views, including on some topics that I feel quite strongly about, yes, inevitably, since I don’t know anyone who I completely agree with on everything. But definitely wouldn’t form a lifelong partnership or family unit with someone who didn’t share important core values that would rule out conservative or reform voters. One of the things I most love about my partner is the authenticity with which he lives values that I really respect through volunteering and political engagement.

My DH and I have voted differently in some elections, although you could say that we are both floating voters so similar in that respect.

Yep we vote differently on everything. We both recognise that we have different experiences and backgrounds which influence that.

Whats interesting is that if we got into power ourselves we would both agree on what needs to be done and how. It's just not being done by any of the parties.

I can’t see much difference between the current Labour Party and centrist Tories and that’s a good thing. Leaving the ECHR would be nuts, we want to reduce immigration but be sympathetic to refugees still. I think most people can agree that Boris and LizTruss were a disgrace.