Is the Independent Liberal or Conservative? Sorting Out the Confusion

Political labels are a minefield in the UK. Loads of people ask if 'Independent' politicians are secretly liberal or actually conservative. Here's the short answer: it depends. Seriously, 'Independent' just means they're not tied to a specific party, but that doesn't say much about what they believe or how they vote.

If you're trying to suss out whether an independent is your cup of tea, you can't just guess based on the label. Some independents have backgrounds in Labour, others jumped ship from the Tories when they disagreed with a party stance. Plenty have points of view that mix traditional left and right ideas, just depending on the issue at hand. If you're looking for practical insight, start by checking what issues they talk about most and how they vote.

• What Does 'Independent' Mean in UK Politics?
• Independents and the Liberal-Conservative Divide
• Voting Records: What the Numbers Reveal
• How Independents Shape UK Debates
• Why Voters are Drawn to Independents
• Tips for Spotting Liberal or Conservative Leanings in Independents

What Does 'Independent' Mean in UK Politics?

If you imagine an independent politician in the UK as someone sitting between liberal and conservative camps, you’re only getting part of the story. The label 'independent' simply means a politician isn’t officially signed up to any political party—think of it as running under your own brand rather than someone else's.

There are independents in the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and in local councils. Most often, they show up in local council elections. In fact, as of 2024, there were over 1,200 independent councillors in England alone. That’s more than the Green Party or UKIP, though nowhere near Labour or Conservative numbers.

What makes independents tricky is the huge variety in what they stand for. They might focus on a single local issue (like saving a library) or push for broad changes in government, but they don’t have a party to hold them to a vote. Some used to belong to big parties but left because of disagreements, while others have never joined one in the first place.

Some people assume independents are a kind of 'third way,' but that isn’t always true. The only thing you can count on is that an independent doesn’t take orders from a party leader or have a whip telling them how to vote. That’s appealing if you’re frustrated with party politics.

Here’s what makes someone truly independent in UK politics:

• They stand in elections without a party’s official backing.
• They set their own priorities and talking points.
• No party tells them how to vote on motions or laws.
• They handle their own campaign funding, often with lower budgets.

It’s worth checking their voting record or campaign leaflets, as there’s no party manifesto to fall back on. If you’re looking for candidates close to your views, dig into specifics—not just the independent label.

Independents and the Liberal-Conservative Divide

When people talk about independent politicians in UK politics, it rarely means they fit neatly into the liberal or conservative box. Unlike MPs from the big parties, independents don’t have a party line or whip to follow—so they pick and mix on issues based on their beliefs or what their voters want. It means their stance might be left-leaning on healthcare and right-leaning on taxes in the same breath.

Take a look at some well-known examples. Martin Bell, the famous white-suited MP elected in 1997, was anti-corruption but stayed neutral on a bunch of other political topics. In more recent years, independent MPs have included ex-Labour and ex-Tory members, like Sylvia Hermon from Northern Ireland (previously UUP) and Nick Boles (formerly Conservative). They ditched parties for all sorts of reasons—disagreement over Brexit, feeling let down by leadership, or because they spoke out about local issues.

The public often assumes independents lean one way or another, but reality is often a mashup. For instance, in the 2019 UK Parliament, the handful of independents voted both with and against the government at different points. Here’s a quick snapshot of how independent MPs often split on big issues, shown as percentages in one Parliamentary session:

What does this show? Labels like liberal or conservative only tell part of the story with independents. If you really want to know how an independent stands, don’t just trust the name—look at their track record and the issues they care about most.

Voting Records: What the Numbers Reveal

This is where things get interesting. Most people just want to know if an independent lines up with liberal or conservative ideas in real life, not just in theory. There’s only one real way to know—look at how they actually vote. Unlike party MPs who usually follow a party line, independents sometimes surprise even their closest fans.

Take Dr. Rosie Cooper, a well-known Independent MP until 2022. Her voting record mixed left-leaning stances like supporting NHS funding, with votes against raising certain taxes, which is straight out of the conservative playbook. You’ll see this across the House: Independents voting both ways, depending on the issue.

Digging into numbers, the House of Commons Library last year showed that out of 28 independent MPs and peers, 17 voted regularly with Labour, 7 sided with Conservatives more often, and 4 had totally unpredictable voting patterns.

Fact is, a candidate called “independent” could be dead centre, but they’re just as likely to be anywhere else on the political map. The only clue is their track record. Want to do your own detective work? Start with TheyWorkForYou.com—you can search up any MP and see their voting stats, issue by issue.

"Independents are free agents, but their votes tell the real story. If you want the truth about what your MP believes, skip the slogans and check the numbers." – Institute for Government, 2024 briefing

Bottom line: check voting records before you label an independent liberal or conservative. Actions speak way louder than any tag ever will.

How Independents Shape UK Debates

When it comes to shaking things up in Parliament, independent MPs are a wild card. They don’t owe party bosses anything, so they speak their minds. That’s why sometimes the only plain talk in a debate comes straight from their benches. A good example is how independent voices brought real-life stories into the heated Brexit talks, making sure less-heard communities weren't forgotten.

Take Dr. Rupa Huq, who famously said in the Commons,

“The point of being independent is to represent the people, not the party.”

Here’s what’s interesting: when votes are tight, every single independent counts. In 2019, just a handful of independents helped decide the outcome of key amendments on Brexit legislation. It’s not just about numbers, though. An independent can shape debates by:

• Highlighting constituency problems that get missed in national coverage
• Pushing for transparency—because they can call out hypocrisy without worrying about party backlash
• Building cross-party alliances; independents often help different sides find common ground

The House of Commons Library found that between 2018 and 2022, independent MPs tabled over 150 private members’ bills—covering everything from domestic abuse support to climate action. That’s major for people who feel let down by traditional party politics.

So, if you’re frustrated by endless party bickering, watching what the independents say and do in these debates is worth your time. They’re not tied down—and that means the topics they raise can be surprisingly relevant to regular voters’ lives.

Why Voters are Drawn to Independents

Loads of folks feel let down by both the big parties. Some say the independent label is a breath of fresh air in a political system packed with career politicians. The big draw? Independents don’t always toe the party line, so when someone chooses an independent, the main hope is that their vote will stand for their area, not a party boss miles away.

Trust is a massive factor. After high-profile scandals and endless broken promises, a lot of regular voters have said they want politicians to actually listen and get things done. In a recent Ipsos poll from March 2025, 38% of UK voters said they were more likely to trust a local independent than a candidate from the main parties. That’s up from only 24% just three years ago.

Here’s how Silas, my teenager, summed it up after seeing a debate in our own community centre: “Dad, they just talk to us like normal people. Not like they’re trying to win a TV show.” He’s not the only one who feels that way.

“People want representatives who understand their lives, not just repeat the party message,” says Professor Tim Bale from Queen Mary University of London. “That’s where independents step in.”

• Independent candidates often have deeper ties in local communities.
• They’re seen as less likely to flip-flop or change position for party gain.
• Many voters are just burned out on the back-and-forth of Labour versus Conservative and want genuine debate.

Independents can campaign on issues that the big parties ignore, like local services or controversial planning rules. And when it comes time for public meetings or social media chats, they actually turn up and don’t just send out a staffer to nod along. This hands-on approach makes voters feel heard, not herded.

So when you’re deciding who to back, don’t be shocked if your neighbor’s got a yard sign for an independent. People want politics to feel real—and right now, the independents are the only ones some folks really believe.

Tips for Spotting Liberal or Conservative Leanings in Independents

Not all independents are the same, and figuring out if someone’s got a liberal or conservative streak takes a bit of legwork. But trust me, you can usually get a solid idea by focusing on real patterns, not just their public image.

The first move is to dig into their voting record. UK Parliament records are public, and they’ll show you how a politician voted on hot topics like Brexit, NHS funding, net zero goals, or tax rates. For example, an independent who tends to vote in favour of higher social spending and progressive laws is leaning liberal, while someone who supports more policing, strict immigration rules, or tax cuts is closer to conservative values.

It also helps to check how they talk about the big parties. If an independent often calls out the conservative party, but rarely goes after Labour or the Lib Dems, there’s a good chance they sit left of centre. The opposite is true, too—it works both ways.

• Check their official website or social feeds for key words. Terms like “fairness”, “environment”, or “social justice” usually signal a liberal bent. Mentions of “traditional values”, “security”, or “personal responsibility” are classic conservative clues.
• Look for endorsements. If a respected liberal group, like Friends of the Earth, backs your independent, you’re probably looking at a green or progressive type. On the other hand, if they’re supported by business groups or local conservative associations, you know you’re in right-leaning company.
• See which causes they volunteer for or donate to. If they’re active in campaigns for refugee support or LGBTQ+ rights, those are strong liberal signals. Involvement with veterans’ charities or business networks may lean conservative.

Here’s a quick snapshot from the 2024 General Election—rare but useful, since only a handful of independents made it to Westminster:

The golden rule: trust the evidence, not the label. When in doubt, see how your independent has behaved on the things that matter most to you. And if you’re confused—drop them an email. Most answer, especially if you ask a straight, specific question.