A complex political shift is emerging among younger voters in the UK, with a growing number of young women displaying a marked turn towards the left, particularly the Green Party, while young men have been noted for a rightward lean towards Reform. This nuanced trend, reported in The Guardian, has not received the level of attention accorded to the more visible surge among young men, but it signals significant undercurrents in the political landscape.
Recent election data reveals that almost a quarter of women aged 18 to 24 voted Green in last July's elections, nearly doubling the proportion of young men who voted for the Reform party. Despite this, political commentators and media have largely focused on the right-wing activism of young men, leaving what some describe as a quieter, slower-burning female political backlash somewhat underexplored. This demographic is typically composed of middle-class students or graduates in their early 20s, profoundly concerned with humanitarian crises like those in Gaza, the plight of refugees, and broader societal issues including misogyny, environmental concerns, and economic inequality.
These young women often express frustration that despite their educational efforts—many holding degrees or even postgraduate qualifications—the prospect of achieving a comparable lifestyle to their parents seems increasingly unattainable. This sense of being overlooked is compounded by perceptions that the Labour Party prioritises appeasing conservative-leaning voters over addressing the needs and values of younger, more progressive women.
King’s College London’s Professor Rosie Campbell has been one of the few academics to analyse this emerging political dynamic extensively. She notes that higher female participation in university education and the labour market traditionally correlates with a shift to more liberal political views. Campbell also attributes a significant part of young women's leftward political shift to the aftermath of Brexit, highlighting that women have tended to be more anti-austerity and pro-EU remain supporters, making the political developments of the past decade particularly alienating.
Campbell and her colleague Rosalind Shorrocks trace the surge in Green Party support back to a base of young female voters who previously endorsed Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour, attracted by his message of “kinder, gentler politics.” These voters transitioned to the Green Party following the 2019 European elections, seemingly disaffected by Labour leader Keir Starmer’s move away from policies they prioritise, such as becoming less supportive on trans rights and wealth redistribution.
Social media is also seen as a potential factor shaping these political attitudes, with algorithms possibly amplifying young women’s concerns by continuously exposing them to content related to social justice issues, thereby heightening their sense of political urgency and dissatisfaction.
Despite the strong views of these women, their electoral impact remains limited compared to other voting blocs. However, political scientists suggest that the increasingly polarized worldviews of younger men and women—with men trending right and women left—could have long-term implications for the political and social fabric of the country.
The Guardian’s analysis raises critical questions about why this quieter form of political dissent has not received proportional attention from parties, commentators, or the public, especially given the potential implications for future political developments and the lived experiences of these young women.
Source: Noah Wire Services