This came up in discussing the kind of UK papers where the best crosswords are found. There is a wonderful list of the kind of people who read UK newspapers but in the meantime, here are few definitions from a frequent traveller to assist (???) inter-cultural understanding.

I always find definitions of political words interesting.

Political Party

In the UK – A political party is defined by its core beliefs. Of the two largest parties, the Conservative party is regarded as being broadly right wing. The Labour Party is regarded as being broadly (nowadays very broadly) left wing.

In the USA – its traditional base of supporters defines a political party. Within each party are far right and centre right factions, there is no electable party which represents a left wing viewpoint.

In US politics the UK Conservative party would be left wing and the UK Labour Party would not exist.

In the UK - liberal = warm, gentle person, prone to wearing woolly jumpers and thinking kind thoughts about people, the environment and animals.

In the USA – liberal = someone who engages in left wing political activity, the sort of person you would be embarrassed to have round to dinner because of their weird thoughts about social spending on free healthcare for all.

In the UK – socialist = warm, gentle person, prone to wearing woolly jumpers and trying to do something to help people, the environment and animals.

In the USA - socialist = someone who engages in left wing political activity and is active in encouraging a Russian invasion of the United States, the sort of person you would be unlikely to meet, let alone have round to dinner because of their weird thoughts about social spending on free healthcare for all and other communist structures.

All this written with my tongue firmly in my cheek!

Please reply and say that this isn't correct!