On the (rather poor) Political Compass type things, I usually end up pretty much central on the economic scale, and most of the way out towards liberal on the other scale. The last time I did one, they had Simon Hughes plotted on it in about the same place I was.
I believe in things like trying to give everyone opportunities (like helping the poor go to the university of their choice), progressive taxation and the like. I also tend to favour small amounts of Law but a relatively large State - where, in my mind, Law is the regulation of everything to hell and back and invading people's private lives, but the State should be providing public services and safety nets for people.
But at heart I try to be pragmatic. Sure, a small law approach might embrace completely free markets, but I want some regulation. And while I have a lot of sympathy for socialism (in the "helping out other people who aren't me" sense, rather than necessarily nationalized industries and such), I find it hard to endorse for Britain on a grand scale, because there are situations where it doesn't work out well, and other things can be better.
Re: Also, in response to your headline:
I believe in things like trying to give everyone opportunities (like helping the poor go to the university of their choice), progressive taxation and the like. I also tend to favour small amounts of Law but a relatively large State - where, in my mind, Law is the regulation of everything to hell and back and invading people's private lives, but the State should be providing public services and safety nets for people.
But at heart I try to be pragmatic. Sure, a small law approach might embrace completely free markets, but I want some regulation. And while I have a lot of sympathy for socialism (in the "helping out other people who aren't me" sense, rather than necessarily nationalized industries and such), I find it hard to endorse for Britain on a grand scale, because there are situations where it doesn't work out well, and other things can be better.
I don't know what that makes me. Confused?