left and right

[Junkstersav]

Can someone explain what this means in politics . Ive noticed some people say labour are left wing but some people say they have moved to the right, and im just wondering what it means !

[noxlumos]

Well that's always been the theory, but of late the liberals have been the most left wing party as the labour govt sells the history of it's own party down the river and becomes more and more right wing. David Cameron who is the Conservative leader is now looking like a sandal wearing social worker compared with Tony Blair so the whole traditional roles of all 3 main parties are now up for question.

[JamesEverton]

Take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left-Right_politi cs which gives a reasonable summary of some of the characteristics that people associate with either the 'left' or 'right' wings.

[Loosehead]

Also the left/right single dimension is inadequate to describe a political tendency. See here for an interesting 2D approach, read the info then try it yourself.

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

[Catso]

It's just a broad-brush way of describing their beliefs/philosophy. I think it originated from where they sit in the House of Commons.

[Hippy]

Left and Right for political beliefs were coined during the early part of the French Revolution. The terms referred to the seating arrangements in the French Legislative Assembly of 1791, when the Royalist Feuillants sat on the right side of the chamber, while the radical Montagnards sat on the left.

Putting that into today's context is fraught with difficulties as individual politicians use surprising "window dressing" to garner support for more entrenched policies. David Cameron will appear like some latter day hippy and get friendly with the Earth, throwing the present government's actions into question, but the Tories remain right wing and will hammer us all as such if they ever get into power.

Those who bewail the current government's betrayal of its "working class" roots should consider the change in the prosperity and aspirations of today's working class, and the destructiveness of the militant Trades Union petty carnalities, while being appropriate to industrial bargaining, being utterly unsuited to the broader political stage. By espousing pragmatic policies in terns of supply and demand, with a view to equitable rewards within society, a Labour government serves the people. Its foreign policy should not only reflect that pragmatism, but also ensure the liberty and prosperity of all citizens. In essence left wing is the intervention of the government on behalf of the poorer in society, and an opposition of aristocratic, royal, or clerical interests.

Right wing beliefs are characterised by exclusivism, a wish to favour those more powerful and wealthy members of society by tilting economics and power in their favour at the expense of the remainder. Right wing politics is also characterised by nationalism, isolationism, and in extremis, race, gender and sexuality hate. Left wing beliefs oppose all that, and aims at delivering rewards and prosperity more equally shared, and espouses inclusivism in all policies.