 Originally Posted by Chic Freak
Hmm, very broadly... how can you be socially liberal if you vote Conservative? They're not exactly progressive, in fact they're the opposite, which is, well, conservative (i.e. regressive).
*goes to hug a gay tree*
Modern Conservatives (and this is the same across many parts of Europe) practice "liberal conservatism" - socially liberal, financially conservative - and that's me summed up nicely - although I'd add that I'm no doubt more socially liberal than current liberal conservatives in general (there's a mouthful, ho-ho!  ).
As society has progressed, so too has the Conservative movement - some haven't followed of course, and indeed there are some splinters who moved far right which isn't a good thing, but the Conservative Party in the UK is a broad church so-to-speak, but David Cameron has done an absolute shed load to modernise the party and bring them into the 21st century, and continually further and further away from "Social Conservatism" (or at least the backwards thinking, out-moded, pre-21st century parts - the importance of family remains, but unfavourable things like anti-gay thinking is rightfully given the boot).
It should be noted that many parties share "Social Conservatism" issues (such as prohibition of drugs and prostitution - politically hot and complex potatoes) ... of course there still remain certain issues that are controversial, but in a free society everyone has a right to express their view and hold a belief in something. The natural swing though moves further and further in favour of things like Stem Cell research ... but even something like Euthanasia remains intensely controversial, even within centre-left parties.
There's still some unreconstructed farts in the back benches, but the LibDems and Labour have the exact same problem - a problem that'll kick the bucket in not too long.
So yes - "liberal conservatism".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_conservatism
Modern European liberal conservatism combines current conservative policies with more liberal stances on social or moral issues. Most centre-right political parties in Europe are usually liberal conservative. Compared to a different group of centre-right parties, such as Christian democratic parties, liberal conservatism is less traditionalist, and usually more libertarian in economy, favouring low-taxes and small government.
Indeed I saw something online the other day that was quite interesting. The Conservative Party are 'trending' to the left, and the Liberal Democrats are 'trending' to the right ... and arguably Labour are 'trending' deep into leftist territory.
...
I'm becoming easily exhausted by politics of late though, I've been ravenously following blogs and the news for the last few years, and I'm finding myself tired out by it all more easily these days ... particularly having to explain my political beliefs to my circle of friends (I'm not including you in this comment, nor am I suggesting a back handed comment ... rather, in my circle of friends I've known since high school, I've been getting into extensive political arguments with them lately where I've routinely been having to explain my political position, as so often they (again, not including you in this comment) misinterpret me, or can't see my reasoning through their politically tinted glasses ... ... long story short, it's been exhausting me).
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