The Political Divide

Democratic politics across the world divides support between left wing and right wing policies.

In Chinese astrology that divide is distinguished by Yin and Yang qualities.

In UK politics the British Labour Party is predominately Yin and the Conservative Party is predominately Yang.

Yin qualities.

Independent, introspective, responsive, solitary, spiritual, less materialistic, introverted, rebellious, liberal, thoughtful, considerate, emotionally stable, less robust and slow to alter opinions.

Yang qualities

Sociable, optimistic, pragmatic, materialistic, passionate, confident, conservative, self-orientated, susceptible, emotionally erratic, distrustful, hospitable, active, serious-minded and prone to jealousy.

Don't for one moment think that Yin is feminine, and Yang masculine. Gender plays no part in this analysis.

Below you will find two lists - of senior Labour and senior Conservative politicians in the UK - together with their dates of birth (taken from Wikipedia) 3 of their 5 Elements, and 3 of their 5 associated Yin/Yang labels.

Use the:

My Character program to check out politicians in your country/area.

Without knowing times of birth it is impossible to complete the Element Chart for each politician. Nevertheless, on the information available it is intriguing to note that Conservative politicians are predominately Yang, whilst Labour are predominately Yin. (Note: Labour politician Shaun Woodward started his political career with the Conservative Party)

Wood is the Element associated with anger, and those with two or more Wood Elements are likely to lose their temper on occasions. Recent speculation that Gordon Brown is prone to lose his temper is partly supported by his one Wood, but Baroness Royall, Cheryl Gillan and Eric Pickles appear the more likely candidates, each having two Wood Elements. However, the hour of birth and the Ming Shu might well reveal a further two Wood Elements for any of the politicians named.

Senior Conservative Party politicians:

Politician	Date of birth	Chinese Elements	Yin/Yang balance
David Cameron	09/10/1966	Fire, Fire, Fire	Yang, Yang, Yin
Cheryl Gillan	21/04/1952	Wood, Water, Wood	Yang, Yang, Yang
Theresa May	01/11/1956	Metal, Fire, Water	Yang, Yang, Yang
William Hague	26/03/1961	Water, Metal, Metal	Yin, Yin, Yin
Jeremy Hunt	01/11/1966	Fire, Fire, Earth	Yang, Yang, Yang
Andrew Lansley	11/12/1956	Metal, Fire, Metal	Yang, Yang, Yang
Pauline Neville-Jones	02/11/1939	Wood, Earth, Wood	Yin, Yin, Yang
Oliver Letwin	19/05/1956	Metal, Fire, Water	Yang, Yang, Yin
Caroline Spelman	04/05/1958	Metal, Earth, Fire	Yang, Yang, Yang
Francis Maude	04/07/1953	Fire, Water, Earth	Yin, Yin, Yang
Patrick McLoughlin	30/11/1957	Metal, Fire, Metal	Yin, Yin, Yin
Andrew Mitchell	23/03/1956	Metal, Fire, Metal	Yang, Yang, Yin
Michael Gove	26/08/1967	Fire, Fire, Earth	Yin, Yin, Yang
Chris Grayling	01/04/1962	Wood, Water, Water	Yang, Yang, Yin
Dominic Grieve	24/05/1956	Metal, Fire, Water	Yang, Yang, Yin
Philip Hammond	04/12/1955	Fire, Wood, Fire	Yin, Yin, Yin
Eric Pickles	20/04/1952	Wood, Water, Wood	Yang, Yang, Yang
Nick Herbert	07/04/1963	Wood, Water, Fire	Yin, Yin, Yang
George Osborne	23/05/1971	Water, Metal, Water	Yin, Yin, Yin
Kenneth Clarke	02/07/1940	Wood, Metal, Water	Yang, Yang, Yang
Owen Paterson	24/06/1956	Metal, Fire, Wood	Yang, Yang, Yang
Lord Strathclyde	22/02/1960	Water, Metal, Earth	Yang, Yang, Yang

Senior Labour Party politicians:

Politician	Date of birth	Chinese Elements	Yin/Yang balance
Gordon Brown	20/02/1951	Wood, Metal, Metal	Yin, Yin, Yang.
Harriet Harman	30/07/1950	Wood, Metal, Water	Yang, Yang, Yin.
Peter Mandelson	21/10/1951	Wood, Metal, Earth	Yin, Yin, Yang
Alistair Darling	28/11/1953	Fire, Water, Water	Yin, Yin, Yin
David Miliband	15/07/1965	Fire, Wood, Water	Yin, Yin, Yin
Hilary Benn	26/11/1953	Fire, Water, Water	Yin, Yin, Yin
Jack Straw	03/08/1946	Metal, Fire, Fire	Yang, Yang, Yang
Alan Johnson	17/05/1950	Wood, Metal, Metal	Yang, Yang, Yin
Douglas Alexander	26/10/1967	Fire, Fire, Metal	Yin, Yin, Yang
John Denham	15/07/1953	Fire, Water, Earth	Yin, Yin, Yin
Ed Balls	25/02/1967	Fire, Fire, Water	Yin, Yin, Yang
Ed Miliband	24/12/1969	Metal, Earth, Fire	Yin, Yin, Yang
Andy Burnham	07/01/1970	Metal, Earth, Fire	Yin, Yin, Yang
Shaun Woodward	26/10/1958	Metal Earth, Water	Yang, yang, Yang
Baroness Royall	20/08/1955	Fire, Wood, Wood	Yin, Yin, Yang
Tessa Jowell	17/09/1947	Water, Fire, Earth	Yin, Yin, Yin
Jim Murphy	23/08/1967	Fire, Fire, Earth	Yin, Yin, Yang
Yvette Cooper	20/03/1969	Metal, Earth, Fire	Yin, Yin, Yin
Liam Byrne	02/10/1970	Metal, Metal, Fire	Yang, Yang, Yang
Peter Hain	16/02/1950	Water, Earth, Fire	Yin, Yin, Yin
Bob Ainsworth	19/06/1952	Wood, Water, Fire	Yang, Yang, Yang
Ben Bradshaw	30/08/1960	Water, Metal, Wood	Yang, Yang, Yang

Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democratic Party: Born 07/01/1967 - Elements: Fire, Fire, Metal - Yin/Yang balance: Yang, Yang, Yang.

Nick Griffin of the British National party: Born 01/03/1959 - Elements: Water, Earth, fire - Yin/Yang balance: Yin, Yin, Yang.