Sara scratches her head. Which of the groups on the list in front of her does she belong to? Is she a Progressive Activist? A Civic Pragmatist? A Disengaged Battler? An Established Liberal? A Loyal National? A Disengaged Traditionalist? A Backbone Conservative?

There is only one way to find out. She takes a deep breath and starts the online questionnaire.

The seven groups were identified by a think tankA research organisation focusing on a certain topic, such as climate policy or education. They often produce information used by businesses, governments and big organisations. called More in Common. Progressive Activists are very political and keen to fight injustice. Civic Pragmatists care about others but are fed up with politics.

Disengaged Battlers struggle to get by and believe the system is stacked against them. Established Liberals wish others well but are largely happy with the status quoA Latin phrase referring to the current or present situation..

Loyal Nationals are patriotic and angry about the gap between rich people and poor. Disengaged Traditionalists believe in hard work and strict government. Backbone Conservatives are proud of Britain and optimistic about its future.

In 1990 the phrase "Essex Man" was coined. It referred to working-class voters who had traditionally voted LabourBritain's main left-of-centre political party. but were won over to the Conservative PartyA British political party. Members are known as Tories. by Margaret ThatcherBritain's first female prime minister and the longest-serving prime minister of the modern era.. Six years later came "Mondeo Man", defined as someone who had voter for Thatcher but was not happy with her successor, John MajorMajor was the British prime minister from 1990 to 1997. .¹

Six months ago the Daily Telegraph came up with four groups of undecided voters. Stop the Boats Steve was a Conservative voter who might defect to ReformMaking big changes to how a system works. . Retiring Rita was a home-owner disappointed by the Conservatives, who might not vote.

Well-paid, middle-class Toyota Tony might switch to Labour or the Liberal DemocratsAlso known as the Lib Dems, a liberal political party in the UK. . Remainer Ruth supported Labour under Jeremy CorbynA British politician who served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party from 2015 to 2020. but might now vote Green or LibDem.

Last week The Guardian decided Retiring Rita probably lived in the North of England. It renamed her "WhitbyA seaside town in Yorkshire, northern England. Woman."

Do we need new parties?

Yes: Britain's two-party system is destructively divisive and completely new political parties are needed to represent people better. People today are often liberal on some issues and right-wing on others.

No: The existing parties are constantly changing their priorities and will continue to do so according to the political climate. Providing a capable government is far more important than ideology.

Or... What is really needed is proportional representationA voting system in which the winning party gets a proportion of parliamentary seats equal to its proportion of the vote.. That would mean that voters right across the political spectrum had a voice rather than just those who voted for the winning party.  

Think tank - A research organisation focusing on a certain topic, such as climate policy or education. They often produce information used by businesses, governments and big organisations.

Status quo - A Latin phrase referring to the current or present situation.

Labour - Britain's main left-of-centre political party.

Conservative party - A British political party. Members are known as Tories.

Margaret Thatcher - Britain's first female prime minister and the longest-serving prime minister of the modern era.

John Major - Major was the British prime minister from 1990 to 1997. 

Reform - Making big changes to how a system works.

Liberal Democrats - Also known as the Lib Dems, a liberal political party in the UK.

Jeremy Corbyn - A British politician who served as Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party from 2015 to 2020.

Whitby - A seaside town in Yorkshire, northern England.

Proportional representation - A voting system in which the winning party gets a proportion of parliamentary seats equal to its proportion of the vote.