A notable political divide appears to be emerging between young women and young men, prompting widespread discussion and analysis.
Recent polling data indicates a growing disparity in political preferences, with young men displaying a greater inclination towards right-leaning ideologies compared to their female counterparts, who are increasingly aligned with liberal perspectives.
According to a 2025 survey conducted by Focaldata for the John Smith Centre, which sampled over 2,000 individuals aged 16 to 29, 20% of young British women identified as left-wing, compared to 13% of young men. However, it’s important to note that the majority of respondents from both genders did not identify with either the left or right.
YouGov polling data from the 2024 general election reveals that 12% of women aged 18 to 24 voted for Reform UK or the Conservatives, compared to 22% of men in the same age bracket.
While Labour emerged as the most popular choice among both sexes, there was a slight preference for the party among women in the youngest age groups.
The Green Party demonstrated considerable appeal among young women, securing 23% of their vote share, in contrast to 12% among men aged 18 to 24.
The Liberal Democrats performed well within this demographic, garnering 16% of the vote among both men and women.
Conversely, the Conservative Party struggled to gain traction within this age group, with the majority of its support originating from individuals over 65. Reform’s support base during the previous year also skewed towards older demographics.
The current political landscape in Britain is characterized by unprecedented volatility, marked by declining allegiance to traditional parties and ambiguity surrounding the definitions of “left” and “right.”
Researchers have identified a discernible trend, indicating a sentiment among young people that the established two-party system in Westminster is no longer adequately addressing their needs, further exacerbating the divide between the sexes.
Dr. Ceri Fowler, a fellow in comparative politics at Oxford University, notes, “Young people generally hold more progressive attitudes compared to older generations. However, a closer examination reveals a divide where young men lean more towards the right, while young women lean more towards the left.”
“This division isn’t confined to the two major parties but extends to the more extreme ends, with men supporting Reform and women supporting the Greens,” she added.
Lucy Thomas, a 19-year-old student from Glasgow, represents the younger voters who initially supported Labour but have since reconsidered their allegiance.
“I grew up under Conservative rule, which I found unsatisfactory. When casting my vote, I prioritize my local community, the people around me, and young people, advocating for increased opportunities for them,” she stated.
According to her, neither Labour nor the Tories resonate with her peers, who are more drawn to Jeremy Corbyn’s party, citing Gaza as a significant concern among young people.
She observed, “Young men are gravitating towards Reform,” adding that while she doesn’t support Nigel Farage’s party, she acknowledges the effectiveness of their social media strategy and the lack of a viable counter-narrative.
Daze Aghaji, a 25-year-old environmental activist, disclosed her decision to vote Green in the previous general election but expressed no strong party affiliation, expressing interest in the new left-wing party being established by Jeremy Corbyn.
“Women are leaning further to the left as we are feeling the ways the world isn’t functioning properly,” she says.
“Many [women] are looking for a new progressive future, they’re fighting to protect their freedoms, but a large amount of young men are holding on to tradition and that’s what drives the gender divide.
“Many young men are holding tightly to a traditional vision of masculinity, yet the world has shifted in ways that make living by that script increasingly impossible.”
Joseph Boam, a 22-year-old Reform UK councillor and former deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council, refuted the notion of Reform being a male-dominated entity.
“We have lots of female supporters, which didn’t surprise me,” says the former Tory supporter.
“My mum and grandma are big Reform supporters, they’re always watching GB News.”
He acknowledges the vital role social media plays for Reform.
“Reform’s smashing it on socials,” he says.
“You’ve got young councillors like me and others using social media to boost the party and get across what we are achieving at a local level, we’re reaching real local people where they’re actually watching and we’re saying all the right things – the truth.”
While Reform drew the majority of its support from older age groups at the last election, Nigel Farage’s personal brand online has proved a hit on youth-oriented platform TikTok, where he has more than a million followers.
The Reform leader has said society is trying to “feminise” young men in a way that made the views of self-proclaimed misogynist influencer Andrew Tate more appealing to them.
But at a lunch for political reporters in March, he stressed: “I’m not a Tate supporter. I’m identifying the truth, that young men feel that they’re not allowed to be blokes.”
Boam says young men like him would not normally relate to someone as old as the 61-year-old Farage, but he adds: “I’ve met him a few times now and he’s exactly the same behind closed doors as he is on camera.
“He’s like the bloke you’d chat to in the pub, just with fire in his belly and a love for his country. If I had to describe Nigel in one word it would be ‘genuine’.”
Reform knows it has to do more to attract female voters as well – although there are already signs the party’s gender gap is starting to narrow.
Last week it launched a Women for Reform campaign, fronted by its only female MP Sarah Pochin and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the mayor of Greater Lincolnshire.
Luke Tryl, from pollsters More in Common, says: “While Reform still has a gender gap and its voters remain more male overall, this gender gap has narrowed since the general election, as the party’s vote share has expanded – with Gen X women in particular swinging toward Reform.
“Our data suggests that women, especially those over 45, who are among the most disillusioned with the status quo, could become a critical part of Reform’s emerging voter base.”
So what are the factors behind this apparent divide between right and left among young men and women?
Dr Fowler points out that more young women than men go on to higher education, where socially liberal attitudes are more prevalent. Polling from You Gov suggests university graduates are more likely to support left wing parties.
Researchers suspect social media plays a role in the gender divide, she adds, but if someone is “feeling disenfranchised with politics both on the left and the right, then if there are alternatives being offered to you on social media it’s easier to engage with that”.
Rosie Campbell, professor of politics at King’s College London, says the “gender generation gap is growing”.
“In the past, both men and women were becoming liberal on the issue of gender equality, but there is an increasing number of young men who are hostile to this, believing that feminism has gone too far, potentially drawing them to support populist, radical right parties who more often express support for traditional gender roles.”
But Mark Brooks, director of policy at the Centre for Policy Research on Men and Boys, a think tank launched earlier this year, with a speech by Health Secretary Wes Streeting, argues that young men are being unfairly singled out, when in fact there is “a general drift away from the two main parties from young men and young women – right and left”.
“I’m concerned about the narrative which is that young men are drifting towards the right being seen as a self-fulfilling prophecy where young men are then considered a problem,” he says.
“One of the most recognised lessons on gender voting patterns coming from the [US] Presidential elections is that the Republicans recognised the plight and disillusionment that some American men, young and old, have. Whilst the Democrats did not recognise or address this at all.”
He adds: “We need more young men in work, more able to get skills to get into work, and more young men to feel like society is on their side.
“The political world should talk positively about young men.”
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