How do you identify politically, and what does that mean for you?

[DreamyScroller]

No judgement, just interested if my general assessment of the political environment on MN is accurate.

I would place myself somewhere between 'right of centre' and 'right', leaning more central.

What that means for me is, I have a mostly conservative inclination in that I hold traditional values and ideas, believe in limited and localised government, and so on... but I do believe there should be space, for example for social safety nets for the poor, some restrictions on big corporations to protect smaller ones/the environment, etc.

How do you identify politically, and why?

We need a vote exchange where we can swap vote pledges to maximise the effect of our votes in a first past the post system.

I'm hard left, I believe in unions, strikes, the working class, public services under public ownership not private companies bleeding them dry to pay overpaid executives. I also support the NHS, social housing, schools & social care should be under council control.

I'm also now a Green voter, I quit Labour when they started behaving like tories after the 2024 GE.

Here’s my wish list:

1. Net zero immigration and a promise not to buy new housing
2. Commitment to green policies - but not just tinkering around with solar panels, proper commitment to rewilding areas and population control so we can reintroduce species
3. A plan for how the heck we are going to deal with the absolute tidal wave of disabled adults we are faced with in 10-30 years
4. A much smaller welfare state with no benefits for the under 25s unless extreme circumstances
5. Closer ties with Europe and a commitment to synchronising our work and health and safety laws with them

No party can fulfil my very bipolar list!

I'd say this is me too - and I'd describe myself as centre left.

I'm now 50 and I feel absolutely done with women's rights being ignored or screwed over, but there are so few parties who are willing to genuinely recognise women as an equal and worthy sex class.

And note the word "genuinely" - the right often co-opt women's rights as a vote-winning tactic but don't actually care any more about us than the left-wing parties who are willing to allow our rights to be violated. And of course, those on the right just want to slash benefits without actually providing any more support, which will disproportionately affect women, particularly single mothers or disabled women.

I'd say women's rights and protecting the most vulnerable in our society - the disabled, elderly, children etc - would be a hill that I would die on...but if I were faced with having to vote for Greens or Reform, I'd hold my nose and vote for the former even though they're appalling on women's rights. The Green Party and Reform are two cheeks of the same arse, especially with Hypnotits at the helm, but Reform is the worst of the two.

As a teen I was massively left, in my late 20s I became central, and now I’m right leaning.

The place I grew up is destroyed, I feel scared for my children. I still have left opinions, but lately I have more right leaning opinions

Peace & Socialism

I don’t really feel like I fit neatly into any of the usual political categories (left/right, liberal/conservative etc.), and I don’t tend to see politics in those terms when I’m thinking or talking about it.

When I look at issues, I’m much more focused on how systems actually work in practice – who has power, how institutions operate, and how decisions get made behind the scenes. I’m more interested in structures and incentives than party lines or ideology.

I suppose I approach things in quite a realist way – looking at outcomes, strategy, and the way different groups or organisations behave when they’re competing for influence or resources. I’m less driven by moral labels or identity-based positions, and more by trying to understand what is actually happening underneath the surface.

Because of that, I don’t think I comfortably sit in any one political “box”. If anything, I probably see politics more as a set of interacting systems rather than a set of fixed beliefs or sides.

My shorter version : I tend to see the world as a network of competing systems governed by constraint, leverage, and institutional behaviour, where outcomes are produced less by ideology and more by the interaction of structure, incentives, and capacity.

At the time of writing this comment the poll is showing "left of centre" at 22%, "centre" at 20% and "right of centre" edging slightly ahead at 27%. That's not very far ahead, but what's interesting is the the majority of the people posting comments are indicating more left and left of centre views (albeit many feeling politically homeless in the current political climate) with not that many posters indicating a right of centre position. It's not particularly surprising that people with centre and centre left views are more likely to have opinions and want to make a comment rather than just vote in the poll, but it will be interesting to see if "right of centre" moves further ahead in this poll.

Hmmmm, even in just the time it took me to write the comment I just posted left of centre has gone up to 23% and right of centre down to 26% so maybe the poll will start to reflect the comments more🤔

oops, can't edit now but I meant left and centre left views were more frequent comments, not centre and centre left.

I’m centre left. For reasons already outlined in this thread.

I’d like to see some reasons on here from RW voters too - I’m genuinely interested in their thoughts.

Lifelong Labour voter (since 1979), of the Blair items wing (but not a Blair fan). Nolonger though. The party's stance on trans has done for me. No idea where I'll go now. The Greens are an unserious party for a serious time, and one party cannot accommodate active Islam and trans activism. Reform are self-serving and racist Emotionally, I'm a Conservative - small state, self-reliance and self-discipline, wealth creation, personal freedom, individual responsibility, anti-collectivism, personal choice - but intellectually Labour - wealth redistribution, fairness over privilege, state ownership of utilities, workers' rights, healthcare free at the point of use.

I believe the UK should pursue a long-term national strategy aimed at:

Restoring and expanding credible military power at global level
Rebuilding industrial and defence manufacturing capacity
Developing strategic autonomy within NATO and allied systems
Establishing a meaningful national space programme with dual civilian and defence applications
Becoming a high-end technological and intelligence power, not just a financial or service-based economy

My Political Views

National Strategic Vision: Britain needs to pursue strategic re-industrialisation, military resurgence, technological leadership, and a sovereign presence in space. We should become a fully credible high-end strategic power with independent capabilities across military, industrial, technological, Sectors.

National Power Doctrine: UK policy should focus on expanding power in four integrated domains: military strength, advanced industrial capacity, technological sovereignty, and space power. These are not luxuries they are essential for long-term survival, relevance, and independence in a competitive world.

Defence & Military Expansion: I support sustained increases in defence spending as a permanent commitment. We need stronger naval power projection, air dominance, long-range strike capabilities, autonomous/AI-enabled systems, and world-class cyber/intelligence operations. The goal is real deterrence and strategic influence, not symbolic forces.

Defence Industrial Revival: Military power requires domestic industrial strength. I want to rebuild advanced shipbuilding, aerospace manufacturing, sovereign defence supply chains, and domestic production of critical systems. The defence sector should drive high-value jobs and innovation, reducing dangerous dependency on foreign suppliers.

Space Capability: Space is a vital 21st-century domain. The UK must develop sovereign satellite networks, launch capability, orbital infrastructure, and dual-use space technologies. This is essential for communications, intelligence, navigation, and future military/economic power.

Technological Sovereignty: We must achieve independence in critical technologies - AI, cyber (offence and defence), quantum computing, advanced aerospace, and secure infrastructure. Technological dependency equals strategic vulnerability.

Economic Re-industrialisation: The economy needs rebalancing toward high-value manufacturing, defence-linked industries, and productive sectors. I support targeted state intervention to rebuild industrial depth while maintaining wealth creation, innovation, and incentives for enterprise. Wealth must be created before it is redistributed.

Fiscal Policy & Redistribution: Long-term fiscal sustainability is essential. However, I support progressive wealth redistribution to promote fairness, provided it does not undermine growth or personal incentives.

Workers’ Rights & Utilities: Strong support for workers’ rights, fair conditions, and union roles (balanced with competitiveness). Key utilities (energy, water, rail) should be under public ownership or tight public control because they are strategic national assets.

Healthcare & Public Services: The NHS must remain free at the point of use. It needs serious reform to improve efficiency, reduce waits, and raise productivity. Education should drive real social mobility, skills, and excellence. Welfare should provide a safety net.

Housing, Infrastructure & Immigration: Fix the housing crisis through major planning reform to massively increase supply. Infrastructure must match population and economic growth. Immigration must be controlled and aligned with housing, services, and integration capacity.

Law, Order & Internal Stability: Firm justice focused on violent crime, repeat offenders, and disorder. A fast, reliable justice system is vital.

Energy & Strategic Infrastructure: Prioritise energy security, affordability, and resilience. A diversified mix (including nuclear) aligned with industrial and defence needs.

Foreign Policy: Realist and interest-based. Strengthen NATO and Five Eyes alliances. Prioritise partnerships that boost our technological and military capabilities. Avoid ideological adventures disconnected from British power and interests.

I don't really understand this term "politically homeless".

I know what it means of course, but I don't understand why a voter would describe themself as such. Because there will never really be a perfect match for what every individual wants.

To me, voting is similar to wanting a sweet to eat. What I really want is a double decker crossed with a Twix. But the shop does not sell that. But I can get a double decker or a Twix. And even if I really hate anything with nuts, and would not buy anything with nuts in, even the smallest rural newsagents/grocer is going to have something.

I see this phrase used mainly by left-leaning GC women.

While I accept that no single party will ever tick every box, the conflict between women’s rights and trans rights is very significant. Traditionally, the left wing parties would have been where you’d find women’s rights being fought for, but many women feel as if their rights, safety, and dignity have been sacrificed. As if there’s no care at all for women’s rights in the left wing sphere.

Thats such a huge and fundamental issue with far-reaching consequences, it’s hard to view it as just one box that doesn’t align. Women’s specific issues and challenges run across so many different areas and underpin so many different policies - so if a party won’t correctly identify what a woman is, everything is affected.

So that rules out any party with non-GC views - essentially all of the parties on the left. But if you are fundamentally left-wing, you’re not going to even come close with aligning with parties on the right, even though they may be saying all the right things about women’s rights.

So where does that leave the left-leaning GC woman? For many of us, women’s rights aren’t a side issue but the parties that would have stood with us have changed their stance to prioritise trans rights at the expense of women’s rights. There’s an enormous compromise to be made somewhere - huge. That’s where the description of being politically homeless comes in because it’s a straight choice between either binning off women’s rights or sacrificing your other primary moral values. Neither of those are insignificant which is why so many women feel as if there’s no party that speaks for them.

To use your own analogy, Twix always came covered in chocolate and you love chocolate. Suddenly there’s no chocolate on the Twix but you can get a bag of crisps that has chocolate flavouring. You don’t want crisps, you want a chocolate bar - you don’t like crisps at all. But Twix and every other chocolate bar has removed all the chocolate, but still remain sweet in every other way. You have a sweet tooth and don’t like savoury things but what you really crave is chocolate - but you can no longer find it anywhere, there’s a gaping hole in the market.

Thanks for that.

So it's really a case of single issue against the greater good (or otherwise) then.

That’s a far more succinct way of summing up my waffle - yes 😂

When the single issue is so significant it assumes equal weight to the greater good of everything else, it can leave you feeling somewhat adrift.

I would like

• A complete ban on foreign investment when it comes to housing. Foreign landlords have bought up my area.

• Removal of failed asylum seekers/refugees as soon as the application is denied

• Adult social care taking back into council ownership and running, including children’s social care.

• complete overhaul of council tax, it’s crippling people.

• Massive investment into people with SEN

• Carers to be paid a heck of a lot more than they are now.

•Ban BTL mortgages

Always been a leftie but I can bear Starmer and Labours current position.

I’d never vote Tory or Reform, have voted Green in the last 2 general elections because I know and like the candidate as she’s a great local councillor… however Polanski is just awful and they seem to have lost their way as it’s all about trans women and free immigration rather than the environment.

Basically I’m homeless.

Right of centre really impressed by Badenoch she’s the only leader that speaks sense. Polanski is a dangerous force cosying up to Islamist doctrine Starmer is a total disgrace Ed Davy dreadful Zia Yusuf is a great orator and speaks sense.

I think, as PPs have mentioned, it's when you find that the party you would otherwise be inclined to support either doesn't address a critical issue (or issues), or their policy on it is completely unacceptable.... and all other parties are generally incompatible with your worldview.

Historically I am politically left of centre overall and have voted labour and Lib Dem in the past. I am a child of the Thatcher era and saw the huge damage done to my community by 1980s conservatism and subsequently the damage done to the country by the austerity years. In terms of overall beliefs (not all of which are coherent with a left leaning stance):

I believe that the first responsibility of a government is defence of the realm and ensuring we have armed forces/defence investment capable of delivering that.

I believe that the quality of a country is to be seen in how it treats its most vulnerable (even/especially those who we might not think deserve it)

I believe individuals should take responsibility for themselves and their families and that no one owes you a living. But equally we have a responsibility to recognise that it is not an even playing field and we need to work towards evening it out and providing support so that people can attain the luxury of being self sufficient.

i believe we need to invest in future technologies and make our country an attractive place to obtain international investment in order to develop capacity and expertise in things such as AI, green energy, biotechnology, sciences and specialist manufacturing.

I believe our arts and entertainment sectors are some of our most important exports and need active support.

I believe in investing in support for children and families in the early years pays massive dividends in future years and that scrapping Sure Start was an act of vandalism by the coalition government.

I believe in a public healthcare and education system free at the point of delivery.

Most critically though I am a gender critical feminist and this informs how I understand and interpret the world around me. Those of you that have suggested that it is a case of just one issue (GC feminism) weighted against all other issues and therefore it should be a case of voting for what gives you most of what you want misunderstand that it is not a separate issue. It is embedded in everything, it weights all the other issues. I cannot and will not vote for a party that has such utter contempt for 50% of the population that they will not even recognise or acknowledge the basic science of our existence. Who will twist themselves in semantic knots rather than say a woman is an adult human female and who think the fetishist requirements of a tiny minority outweigh the right of women and girls to be safe. Who lack the courage and moral fibre to stand up to bullies.

I am fortunate that the local elections offer me the choice of a very good residents association. If a GE were to happen tomorrow I might actually be in the unthinkable situation of voting conservative because to labour and Lib Dem’s are a bunch of self serving cowards.