For years, pundits have warned about the supposed 'lost generation' of young British men, supposedly seduced by right-wing ideologies and misogynistic online influencers. But new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has exploded this myth, revealing that, in fact, young men are not more likely to vote for right-wing parties than their older counterparts.
The study, which analysed data from over 30,000 individuals via the British Election Study, found that age is a far more significant factor in shaping voters' views than gender. While acknowledging that young men tend to be less progressive than women of the same age, the research showed they remain more progressive overall and are less likely to back right-wing parties compared with men from older age groups.
Lead author Dr Chris Bick highlighted the findings as a 'wake-up call' for politicians to rethink their approach to engaging with young men. He stated: "There's a perception that young men are shifting rapidly to the right, but we haven't found much evidence of this at all. They remain the most progressive cohort of men on various issues."
The analysis also revealed a slight increase in support for conservative parties among 18-to-25-year-old men, rising from approximately 18% in 2022 to around 30% last year. However, this trend mirrors similar increases seen among older men, where support for conservative parties climbed from about 35% in 2022 to over 50% in 2023.
What's more striking is that young men have become around 5 percentage points more likely to back Reform UK since the last general election – a significantly smaller increase than observed among older men and women, who have seen their support for the party surge dramatically.
The study also explored specific policy areas, revealing that young men hold more progressive views on issues such as immigration, race, women's rights, and homosexuality. While a gender gap exists, with young men being more conservative than young women, Dr Bick noted this divergence is primarily driven by young women moving further left rather than young men shifting significantly right.
The implications of this research are significant for political parties, particularly those on the left. Dr Bick suggested that if parties want to advance progressive politics, young men remain a crucial base of support. He advised politicians aiming to attract younger voters must ensure they do not alienate them with policies perceived as out of touch or dismissive.
Instead, Dr Bick urged parties to engage with young men on issues relevant to their lives, such as education and employment opportunities. He stated: "If we want to build a more progressive Britain, we need to get this right and provide support for those who are actually looking for change."